ft v^/^-V'C^fe^
S SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE
i
Section.
#o./ni
m*^* 5
THE ART
OF
INVIGORATING AND PROLONGING
m
4M 4Jk *E' ^p»
BY
FOOD, CLOTHES, AIR, EXERCISE, WINE, SLEEP, &c.
AND
PEPTIC PRECEPTS,
POINTING OUT
AGREEABLE A.\p EFFECTUAL METHODS
TO PREVENT AND RELIEVE
AND TO
REGULATE AND STRENGTHEN THE ACTION
OF THE
STOMACH AND BOWELS. ~n
Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re. I'll
TO WHICH IS ADDED
THE PLEASURE OF MAKING A WILL.
Finis coronat opus.
B? THE
.1UTH0R OF "THE COOK'S ORACLE;' frc. 4 •
FROM THE THIRD LONDON EDITION.
LEXINGTON, KY.
PRINTED BY W. W. WORSLEY.
^s©<*
TO TilL
Nervous and bilious.
THE FOLLOWING
VI81»
ON THE
ART OF MANAGING THOSE TEMPERAMENT^
IS RESPECTFULLY ISSCRLBEJ/.
from the Edinburgh Review.
"But lest any one should suffer by an in-
cautious indulgence in the good things dis-
played in the "Cook's Oracle," the author
has published a separate work under the ti-
tle of Peptic Precepts, in which the prevail-
ing symptoms of Indigestion are carefully no-
ticed, and the most effectual antidotes pre-
scribed."
THE ART
OF
INVIGORATING AND PROLONGING
BIMT AST© IKDMUD
"The choice and measure of the materials of which our Body
is composed, and what we take daily by Pounds, is at least of as
much importance as what we take seldom, and only by Grains
and Spoonfuls." — Dr. Arbuthnot on Aliment, pref. p. lii.
THE Editor of the following 1 pages had originally an
extremely delicate Constitution; — and at an early period
devoted himself to the study of Physic, with a hope — of
learning how to make the most of his small stock of health.
The system he adopted, succeeded, and he is arrived
at his fort^-third year, in tolerable good health; and this
without any uncomfortable abstinence: — his maxim has
ever been, "dvm Vivimus, Vivamus ."
He does not mean the Aguish existence of the votary
of Fashion — whose body is burning from voluptuous in-
temperance to-day, and freezing in miserable collapse to-
morrow — not extravagantly consuming in a Day, the ani-
mal spirits which Nature intended for the animation of a
Week — but keeping the expense of the machinery of Life
within the income of Health, — which the Constitution can
regularly and comfortably supply.
This is the grand "arcanum duplicatum" for "Living
all the days of your Life."
The art of invigorating the Health, and improving the
Strength of Man, has hitherto only been considered for
the purpose of training* him for Athletic Exercises — but I
*The advantages of the training system are not confined to pe-
destrians and pugilists alone, the , extend to every man ; and were
• A 2
'- THE .ART OF INVIGORATING
have often thought that a similar plan might be adopted
with considerable advantage, to animate and strengthen
enfeebled Constitutions — prevent gout — reduce corpulen-
cy — cure Nervous and Chronic Weakness — Hypochron-
diac and Bilious Disorders, &c. — to increase the enjoyment
and prolong the duration of Feeble Life — for which Med-
icine, unassisted by Diet and Regimen, — affords but very
trifling and temporary help.
The universal desire of repairing, perfecting, and pro-
longing Life, has induced many ingenious men to try innu-
merable experiments on almost all the products of the
Animal, Vegetable, and Mineral kingdoms, with the
hope of discovering Agents, that will not merely increase
or diminish the force or frequency of the Pulse ; but with
an ardour as romantic as the search after the Philosopher's
Stone, they have vainly hoped, that Panaceas might be
found possessing the power of curing "all the evils that
flesh is heir to."
This is evident enough to all who have examined the
early Pharmacopoeias, which are full of heterogeneous
compounds, the inventions of interested, and the imagina-
tions of ignorant men.
The liberal and enlightened Physicians of the hist and
present century have gradually expunged most of these,
< raining generally introduced instead of medicines, as an expedient
lor the prevention and cure of diseases, its beneficial consequences
would promote his happiness and prolong his life. "Our Health, Vi-
gor, and activity, must depend upon regimen and exercise ; or, in o-
ther words, upon the observance of those rules which constitute the
theory of the training process." — Cap!. Barclay on, training
-p. 230.
"It has been made a question, whether Training produces a last-
ing, or only a temporary effect on the constitution] It is undeni-
able, that if a man be brought^to a better condition ; if corpulen-
cy, and the impurities of his body disappear; and if his wind and
strength be improved by any process whatever,* his good state of
health will continue until some derangement of his frame shall
take place from accidental or natural causes. If he shall relapse
into intemperance, or neglect the means of preserving his health,
either by omitting to take the necessary exercise or by indulging in
debilitating propensities, he must expect such encroachments to
be made on his constitution, as must soon unhinge his system. But
if he shall observe a different plan — the beneficial effects of the
training process will remain until the gradual decay of his natur-
al functions shall, in mature old age, intimate the approach of hi
lutiott." — Capt. Barclay on Traming, p. 240.
AND PROLONGING LIFE. 8
and made the science of Medicine sufficiently intelligible
to those whose business it is to learn it — if Medicine be
entirely divested of its Mystery, its power over the Wind,
which in most cases forms its main strength, will no longer
exist.
It was a favorite remark of the celebrated Dr. John
Brown*, that "if a student in Physic employed seven
years in storing his memory with the accepted, but, — un-
fortunately, in nine cases out of ten, — imaginary powers
of Medicine, he would, if he did not possess very extra-
ordinary sagacity, lose a much longer time in discovering
the multiform delusions his medical oracles had imposed
upon him — before he ascertains that, with the exception
of Mercury for the Lues, — Bark for lntermittents, — and
Sulphur for Psora — the Materia Medica does not furnish
many Specifics — and may be almost reduced to Evacuants
and Stimuli:" — However, these. skilfully administered, af-
ford all the assistance to Nature, that can be obtained
from Art!
Let not the uninitiated in medical Mysteries imagine for
a moment, that the Editor desires to depreciate their im-
portance — but observe once for all — that he has only one
reason for writing this book — which is, to warn you a-
gainst the ordinary causes of Disorder — and to teach
\ ou the easiest and most salutary method of preventing or
subduing it, and of recovering and preserving 1 Health and
Strength, when in spite of all your prudence, you are over-
taken by sickness, and have no Medical Friend ready to
defend you.
Experience has so long proved the actual importance of
Training — that Pugilists will not willingly engage with-
out such preparation.
The principal rules for which are, — to go to Bed early —
to Rise early — to take as much Exercise as you can in the
open air, without fatigue — to Eat and Drink moderately
of' plain nourishing Food — and especially, — to keep the
Mind diverted,! and in as easy and cheerful a state as pos-
sible.
*Scc the 338th aphorism in Coulton's Lacon. 1820. 5th Edi-
tion.
■{•"Besides his usual or regular Exercise, a person under training
ought to employ him. intervals, in every kind u<
4 THE ART OF INVIGORATING
Somewhat such a system is followed at the fashionahle
watering - places — and great would be the improvement of
Health that would result from it, — if it was not continual-
ly counteracted, by visits to the Ball Room* and the Card
fable.
A residence in the country will avail little, if ) r ou car-
ry with you there, the irregular habits, and late hours of
fashionable Life.
Do not expect much benefit from mere change of Air —
the purest breezes of the country will produce very lit-
tle effect, unless accompanied by plenty of regular Exer-
cise]- — Temperance — and above all, Tranquillity of Mind. —
See Obs. on "Air" and "Exercise."
The following is a brief sketch of the usual Method
of Training Persons for Athletic Exercises.
The Alimentary CanalJ is cleansed by an Emetic and
then two or three Purgatives. — See Index.
tion which tends to activity, such as cricket, bowls, throwing
quoits, &c. that during the whole day, both body and mind may
be constantly occupied." — Capt. Barclay on Training p. 231.
"The nature of the disposition of the person training should al-
so be known, that every cause of irritation may be avoided ; for,
as it requires great patience and perseverance to undergo training,
every expedient to soothe and encourage the mind should be ad-
opted" — Capt. Barclay on Training, p. 237.
*Forty years ago Balls, &c. used to begin in the evening, i. e.
at seven, and end at night, i. e. twelve ; now it is extremely un-
genteel to begin before Midnight or finish till the Morning.
f'The Studious the Contemplative, the Valetudinary, and those
of weak nerves — if they aim at Health and Long Life, must make
Exercise in a good air, a part of their Religion." — Cheyne on
Long Life, p. 98.
"Whenever circumstances would permit, I have recommended
patients to take as much exercise as they could, short of produ-
cing fatigue; to live much in the open air; and, if possible, not to
suffer their minds to be agitated by anxiety or fatigued by exer-
tion."— p. 90
"I do not allow the state of the weather to be urged as an ob-
jection to the prosecution of measures so essential to Health, since
it is in the power of every one to protect themselves from cold by
clothing, and the exercise may be taken in a chamber with the
windows thrown open, by actively walking backwards and for-
wards, as sailors do on slap board." — p. 93. See Abernethy's
Surgical Observations, !8l7.
^One of the invariable consequences of training is to increase
the solidity, and diminish the frequency of the alvine exoneration,
AND PROLONGING LIFE. S
They are directed to eat Beef and Mutton* rather wi-
der than over done, and without either Seasoning or Sauce
— Broils (No 94,) are preferred to either Roasts (No. 19.)
or Boils — and stale Bread or Biscuit.
Neither Veal, Lamb, Pork, Fish, Milk, Butter, Cheese,
Puddings, Pastry or Vegetables, are allowed.
Beef and Mutton only (fresh, not salted) are ordered ; but
we believe this restriction is seldom entirely submitted to.
Nothing tends more to renovate the Constitution, than a
temporary retirement to the Country.
The necessity of breathing a pure Air, and the strictest
temperance, are uniformly and absolutely insisted upon by
all Trainers; the striking advantages resulting therefrom,
we have heard as universally acknowledged by those who
have been trained.
Mild Home-brezied Ah is recommended for drink, about
three pints per da}', taken with breakfast and dinner, and
a little at supper; not in large draughts, but by mouthfuls,
alternately with your food.
Stale Beer often disturbs delicate Bowels; if your Palate
warns you that Malt Liquor is inclined to be hard, neutral-
ize it with a little Carbonate of Potash; that good sound
Beer, which is neither nauseous from its newness, nor nox-
ious from its staleness, is in unison with the animating diet
of Animal Food, which we are recommending as the most
effective antidote to debility, &c. experience has sufficient-
ly proved. There can be no doubt, that the combination
of the tonic power of the Hop, and the nourishment of the
Malt, is much more invigorating than any simple vinous
spirit; but the difficulty of obtaining it good, ready brew-
ed, and the trouble of brewing is so great, that happy are
those who are contented with Good Toa^t and Water
(No. 463*), as a diluent to solid food, and a few glasses of
wine as a finishing "Bonne BouchcP
and persons become costive as they improve in condition: — ii
this disposition takes place to an inconvenient degree, — Sec Pep-
tic Precepts, Index.
*"Animal food being composed of the most nutricious pal
the food on which the animal lived, and having been already diges-
ted by the proper organs of an animal, requires onh solution and
mixture; whereas vegetable food must be converted into a sub-
stance of an animal nature by the proper action of our own vis-
cera, and consequently requires more labour of the stomach, and
Other digestive or/an c ." — Bt'rton on the Noiv-J^ttturaU^ p. 21 '
6 THE ART OP INVIGORATING
Those who do not like Beer, are allowed Wine and Wa
ter — Red wine is preferred to white, and not more than
half a pint, (i. e. eight ounces,) or four common sized wine
glasses, after Dinner; none after Supper, nor any spirits,
however diluted.
Eight hours sleep are necessary; but this is generally
left to the previous habits of the person; those who take
active Exercise, require adequate rest.
Breakfast* upon meat at eight o'clock — Dinner at
two — Supper is not advised, but they may have a little bit
of cold meat about eight o'clock, and take a walk after be-
tween it and ten, when they go to bed.
The time requisite to screw a man up to his fullest strength,
depends upon his previous habits and age. In the vigor
of life, between 20 and 35, a month or two is generally suf-
ficient : more or less, according as he is older, and his pre-
vious habits have been in opposition to the above system.
By this mode of proceeding for two or three months,
the constitution of the human frame is greatly improved,
and the courage proportionably increased; a person who
was breathless, and panting on the least exertion, and
had a certain share of those nervous and bilious com-
plaints, which are occasionally the companions of all who
reside in great Cities, becomes enabled to run with ease
and fleetness.
*Tlie„ following was the food taken by Capt. Barclay in his
most extraordinary walk of 1000 miles in 1000 successive hours,
June I, 1809. "He Breakfasttd after returning from his walk, at
five in the morning. He ate a roasted Fowl, and drank a pint of
strong Ale, and then took two cups of Tea with bread and butter.
"Me Lunched at twelve: the one day on Beef Stakes, and the
other on Mutton Chops, of which he ate a considerable quantity.
"He Dined at six, either on Roast Beef or Mutton Chops. His
drink was Porter, and two or three glasses of wine.
"He Supped at eleven on a cold fowl. He ate such vegetables
as were in season ; and the quantity of animal food he took daily.
was from five to six pounds." — See Pcdestrianism, p. 6.
"His style of Walking is to bend forward the body, and to throw
its weight on the knees. His step is short, and his feet are raised
only a few inches from the ground. Any person who will try this
plan, will find that his pace will be quickened, at the same time he
will walk with more ease to himself, and be better able to endure
the fatigue of a long journey than by walking in a posture per-
fectly erect$ which throws too much of the weight of the body on
the ancle-joints. He always uses thick-soled shoes, and Lamb's
wool stockings. It is a good rule to shift the stockings frequently
daring the performance of a lonir distance ; but it is indispensably
requisite to have shoes with thick soles, and so large, that all uu-
aeeessary pressure on the feet may be avoided." — p. '208.
AND PROLONGING MPE. 7
The Restorative Process having proceeded with health
ful regularity, every part of the Constitution is effectively
invigorated; a man feels so conscious of the actual aug-
mentation of all his powers, hoth bodily and mental, that
he will undertake with alacrity, a task which before he
shrunk from encountering.
The clearness of the complexion is considered the best
criterion of a mayi's being in good condition; to which we
add the appearance of the Under-Lip, which is plump and
rosy, in proportion to the healthy plethora of the constitu-
tion: this is a much more certain symptom of vigorous
health than any indication you can form from the appearance
of the tongue, or the Pilse. which is another very uncer-
tain and deceiving Index; the strength and frequency of
which, not only varies in different persons, but in the same
person in different circumstances and positions; in some ir-
ritable constitutions the vibration of the heart varies almost
as often as it beats; when v\ e walk, stand, sit, or lie down;
early in the morning, late in the evening, elated with good
news, depressed by bad, Lc. when the stomach is empty,
after taking food, after a full meal of nutritive food, after
a spare one of Maigre materials. Moreover, it is impossi-
ble to ascertain the degree of deviation from health by
feeling a pulse, unless we are well acquainted with the
peculiarity of it, when the patient is in health.
The editor has now arrived at the most difficult part of
his work, and needs all the assistance that training can
give, to excite him to proceed with any hope of develop-
ing the subject with that perspicuity and effect, which it
deserves, and he desires to give it.
The Food, Clothes, Fire. Air, Exercise, Sleep, Wine, &.c.
which maybe most advisable for invigorating the health
'of one individual, maybe by no means the Lest adapted
to produce a like good effect with another; at the time of
life most people arrive at, before they think about these
things, they are often become the slaves of habits which
have grown with their growth, and strengthened with
their strength; and the utmost that can he done after our
40th year, is to endeavour very gradually to correct them.
We caution those who are past the meridian (See Index)
of life, to beware of suddenly abandoning established
customs, (especially of diminishing the warmth of their
clothing, or the nutritive quality of what they cat and
O THE ART OF INVIGORATING
drink.) which by long usage, often become as indispensa
ble, as a mathematical Valetudinarian reckoned his tlaniiel
waistcoat was: '*in the ratio that my body would be un-
comfortable without my skin — would my skin be, without
my Flannel Waistcoat.''' 1
We recommend those who are in search of health and
strength, to read the remarks which are classed under the
titles Wine, Siesta, Clothes, '-'Air," "Fire," Sleep, Pep-
tic Precepts, &c.
With the greatest deference, we submit the following
sketch, to be variously modified by the medical adviser,
according to the season of the year, the age, constitution,
and previous habits of the patient, the purpose it is inten-
ded to accomplish, or the disorder it is intended to pre-
vent or cure.
The first thing to be done, is to put the principal Visce-
ra into a condition to absorb the pabulum vitae, we put in-
to the stomach ; as much depends on the state of the or-
gans of digestion* as on the quality of our diet: there-
fore commence with taking early in the morning, fasting,
about half an hour before breakfast, about two drams of
Epsom Salts (i. e. as much as will move the bowels twice,
not more,) in half a pint of warm water. — See Index.
The following day, go into a Tepid Bath, heated to a-
bout 95 degrees of Fahrenheit.
The third day, take another dose of salts, keeping to a
light diet of fish, broths, &c (Nos. 490, 563, 564, and 572.)
During the next week, take the Tonic Tincture, as di-
rected in (No. 569.) See Index. Thus far, any person
may proceed without any difficulty, and great benefit will
be derived therefrom, if he cannot pu'sue the following
part of the system:
Rise early ; if the weather permits, amuse yourself with
exercise in the open air for some time before j'reakfast,
the material for which, 1 leave entirely to the previous
habit of the individual.
Such is the sensibility of the stomach, when recruited
by a good night's rest, that of all alterations in diet, it n ill
be most disappointed at any change of this meal, either
of the time it is taken, or of the quantity, or quality of it;
*"Accordir.e; to the force of the Chylonout ic Organs, a larger or
Jess quantity of Chyle may he abstracted from the same quantity
of food." — AauuTHNOT on Aliment* p. 24.
AND TROLONGING LIFE.
so much so, that the functions of a delicate stomach will
he frequently deranged throughout (he whole day after.
The Breakfast 1 recommend, is Good Milk Gruel,
(No. 572,) see Index, or Beef Tea (No. 563.) see Index, or
Portable Beef Tea (No. 252;) a pint of the latter may
be made for two-pence halfpenny, as easily as a basin of
Gruel.
The interval between Breakfast and.clevcn o'clock, is
the best time for intellectual business, then exercise again
till about twelve, when probably the appetite will be cra-
ving for a Luncheon, which may consist of a bit of roast-
ed poultry, a basin of good beef tea. or esz'x* poached,
(No. 54C,) or boiled in the shell, (517.) Fish plainly dres-
sed. (No. 144, or 145, &c.) or a Sandwich. (No. 504,) stale
bread, and half a pint of good home-brewed beer, or
toast and water, (No. 463*.) see Index, with about one-
fourth or one third part of its measure of Wine, of which
Port is preferred.
The solidity of the Luncheon should be proportionate
io the time it is intended to enable you to wait for your
dinner, and the activity of the exercise you take in the
meantime.
Take exercise and amusement as much as is convenient
in the open air again, till past four, then rest, and prepare
for Dinner at Jive, which should be con'ined to one dish, of
roasted beef, (No 19.) or mutton, (No. 23,) live days in
the week, boiled meat one, and roasted poultry one, with
a portion of sufficiently boiled ripe vegetables; mashed
potatoes are preferred, see (No. 100.) and the other four-
teen ways of dressing this useful root.
The same restrictions from other articles of food,* as we
have already mentioned in the plan for training: i. e. if
the person trained, has not arrived at that time of life,
when habit has become so strong, that to deprive him of
those accustomed indigencies, &.c. by which his 'health
*Nothing comes to perfection under a stated period of growth ;
and till it attains this, it will, of coarse, afford inferior nutriment,
Beef and mutton are much easier of digestion, and mere nutri-
cious,than veal or iamb. If! he flesh of mutton and lamb, beef and
veal, are compared, they will be found of a diffen ot texture, the
two young meats of a more stringy indivi si ble nature than the oth-
ers, winch makes them harder of digestion." — Domestic Manage*
ment, 12mo. 1813. p. 164.
B
tU THE ART OF INVIGORATIN(
has hitherto been supported, would be as barbarous, as to
take away crutches from Die lame.
Drink at dinner, a pint oi* home-brewed beer, or toasl
and water (No. 463*) Avith 6ne : third or one-fourth part
wine, and a few glasses of wine after — the less, the bet-
ter; but take as much as custom has made necessary to
excite that degree of circulation in your system, without
which, you are uncomfortable. Read Obs. on '"Wine."
After Dinner sit quiet for a couple of hours; the Se-
mi-Siesta is a pleasant position, i. e.the feet on a stool a-
bout eight inches high, or if your exercise has fatigued
you, lie down, and indulge in horizontal refreshment:*
{his you may sometimes do with advantage before dinner,
if you have taken more exercise than usual, and you feel
tired: when the body is fatigued, the stomach, by sympa-
thy, will, in proportion, be incapable of doing its business
of digestion.
At Seven, a little tea or warmed milk, with a very lit-
tle rum, a bit of sugar and a little nutmeg in it, after
which, exercise and amusement again, if convenient in
the open air.
For Supper, a biscuit or a sandwich, (No. 504,) or a bit
of cold fowl, kc. and a glass of beev, or wine, and toast
and water (No. 463*,) and occasionally (No. 572,) i. e. as
light a supper as possible; the sooner after ten you retire
to rest, the better.
For those who dine very late, the best supper is gruel
(Nc 572,) or a little bread and cheese, or pounded cheese,
(No, 542,) and a glass of beer; but if you have had an
early or Ban Yan Dinner, or instinct suggests that the ex-
haustion, from extraordinary exertion, requires more res-
torative materials, furnish your stomach with a chop or a
chicken, &c. or some of the easy digestible and nutritive
materials referred to in the Index under the article Food
for Feeble Stomachs ; and as much diffusible stimulus as will
animate the circulation, and ensure the influence of ''Na-
ture's sweet restorer, Balmy Sleep, 1 ' the soundness of
which, depends entirely on the stomach being in good tem-
* U A 40 Winks .Nap,'"' in a horizontal posture, is the most revi-
ing preparative for any great exertion of either the mind or body ;
id which it is as proper an Overture as it is a Finale, — See '
■■ \.
AND PROLONGING LIFE, I I
per, and the heart supporting the circulation with saluta-
ry vigor. See the Art of Sleeping. — Index.
For the diet to be confined to beef and mutton, is a suf-
ficient abridgment of the amusement of the mouth; it is
a barbarous mortification, to insist on these being always
cooked the same way,* and we advise an occasional in-
dulgence in the whole range of plain cookery, from (No. 1)
to (No. 98.)
Broils, (No. 94.) are ordered in the plan for training,
probably because the most convenieut manner of obtain-
ing the desired portion hot, (Food is then most easy of di-
gestion; before the process of digestion can commence, it
must take the temperature of the stomach, which, when in a
languid state, has no superfluous heat to spare;) but as the
lean part is often scorched and dried, and the fat becomes
empj'reumatic, from being in immediate contact with the
fire, a slice of well roasted ribs, (No. 20,) or si '-loin of
beef (No. 19.) or a leg, neck, loin, or saddle of mutton
(No. 23, or 26, or 31.) must be infinitely more succulent
and nutritive; whether this be rather over, or under-done,
the previous habits of the eater must determine; the me-
dium between over and under-dressing, is in general most
agreeable, and certainly most wholesome.
That Meat which is considerably under-done, contains
more nutriment than that which is over-done, is true
enough; that which is not done at all, contains a great
deal more; but in the ratio that it is Ran-,'] so it is unfor-
tunately difficult of digestion, as Spallanzani, (see Index)
has proved by actual and satisfactory experiments.
Our food must be done, either by our Cook, or by
our Stomach, before digestion can take place; (see 1st
page of Obs. on Siesta;) surely no man in his senses, would
willingly be so wanting in consideration of the comfort,
*"Few persons, even in the best health, can, without dii
bear to be confined to a peculiar food, or way of living, for any
length of time, (which is a strong argument that a varietj of food
is natural to mankind;) and if so, the debilitated stomachs of Vale-
tudinarians cannot be expected to be less fastidious. — "Falconer
on Diet, p. 8."
fit appears from my experiments, that boiled and rootled, and
even putrid meat, is easier of digestion than ran-.' 1 — Sec J. JU;n
ter on the minimal Economy, p. 220.
12 ART OF INVIGORA1
£a~. of his stomach, as to give it the needless trouble <>r
cooking and digesting also, and waste its valuable ener-
gies in work which a Spit or a Stewpan can do better.
Thoroughly dressed Beef (No. 19,)orMuTTON (No. 23,)
is incomparably the most animating food we can furnish
our stomachs with, and sound Home-brewed beer, the
most invigorating drink. It is indeed, gentle reader, not-,
withstanding a foolish fashion has banished the natural
beverage of Great Britain, as extremely ungcntecl.
"Your Wine tippling, Drain sipping fellows retreat,
But your Beer-drinking Briton can never be beat."
The best test of the restorative qualities of food, are a
small quantity of it satisfying hunger, the strength of the
pulse after it, and the length of time which elapses before
appetite returns again: according to these rules, the Ed-
itor's own experience gives a decided verdict in favour of
roasted or broiled beef, (No. 19, or 94,) or mutton (No.
26, or 23,) as most nutritive, then game and poultry, of
which the meat is brown, (No. 59, or 61, or 74,) next veal
and lamb and poultry, of which the meat is white ; the fat
kinds of fish, Eels, Salmon, Herrings, &c. and least nutri-
tive, the white kinds of fish, such as Whiting, Cod, Soles,
Haddocks, &c. For further information, see Oysters, (No.
181.)
The celebrated trainer Sir Thomas Parkyns, &c. "great-
ly preferred Beef-eaters; Sheep-biters, as they called
those who ate mutton."
By Dr. Stark's very curious experiment on diet, p. 110,
it appears, that "when he fed upon Roasted Goose, he
was much more vigorous both in body and mind, than with
any other food."
That fish is less nutritive than Flesh, the speedy re-
turn of hunger after a dinner of fish is sufficient proof;
when a trainer at Newmarket* wishes to waste a Jockey,
he is not allowed Pudding, if fish can be had.
Crabs, — Lobsters (No. 176,) Prawns, kc. unless thor-
oughly boded, (which those sold ready boiled seldorh are,)
are tremendously indigestible. Shell Fish have long held
*"Newmarket affords abundant proofs, how much may be done
by training; Jockies sometimes reduce themselves a stone and a
half in a week." — Wadd o/i Corjmlcncy, 8vo. 1816. — p. 35.
AND PROLONGING LIFE. 13
a high rank in the catalogue of easy digestible and spee-
dily restorative foods: of these Oysters (No. 181,) certain-
ly deserve the best character; but we think that they as
well as Eggs, Gelatinous Substances, Rich Broths,* kc.
have acquired not a little more reputation for these quali-
ties than they deserve.
Oysters are often cold and uncomfortable to Dyspeptic
Stomachs, unless warmed with a certain quantity of pep-
per, and good white wine.
To recruit the animal spirits, and produce Strength, there
is nothing like Beef and Mutton; moreover when kept
till properly tender, none w ill give less trouble to the di-
gestive organs, and more substantial excitement to the
constitution.
The Editor has dined for some years principally upon
plainly roasted or boiled Beef and Mutton, and has often
observed, that if he changes it for any other food for sev-
eral days together, that he suffers a diminution of strength.
&c. and is disposed on such days to drink an additional
glass of Wine, &c. See Index.
However, the fitness of various foods, and drinks, and
the quantity of nutriment which they afford, depends very
much upon how they are prepared, and as much on the
inclination and abilities of the concoctive faculties, which
have the task of converting them into Chyle.
It is quite as absurd, to suppose, that one kind of diet,
kc. is equally adapted to every kind of constitution, as
that one remedy w ill cure all diseases.
To produce the highest degree of health and strength, we
must supply the stomach with not merely that material
which contains the greatest quantity of nourishment, but
in making our reckoning, must take into the account, the
degree in which it is adapted to the habits and powers of
the organs which is to digest it; the arms of a giant are
of little use in the hands of a Dwarf.
* "A dog was fed on the Richest Broth, yet could not be kept a-
Ylvc ; while another, which had only the meat boiled to a ship, (and
water,) throve verywelL This shows thi follj of attempting to
nourish men by concentrated soups, jellies, &c."— Sinclair's Code
of Health.
\t this experiment be accurate, what becomes of the theoretic
visions of thoae who have written about strengthening jellies, nour*
IJhine broths, &c?
B2
14 THE ART OF INVICORATIN*
The plan roe have proposed, was calculated for midsum-
mer-day, when plenty of hard exercise in the open air will
soon create an appetite for the substantial diet we have re-
commended; it is taken for granted, that a person has the
opportunity of devoting a couple of months to the re-es-
tablishment of his health, and that during that time, he
will be content to consider himsef in the same state as any
other animal out of condition, and disposed to submit
cheerfully to such a modification of the rules recommend-
ed, as his medical adviser may deem most convenient to
the circumstances of the case, and the age, the constitu-
tion and previous habits of the patient, &c. &c.
Every part of this system must be observed in proportion,
and Exercise increased in the same degree, that Nour-
ishment, is introduced to the constitution.
The best general rule for diet that I can write, is to eat.
and drink only of such foods, at such times, and in such
quantities, as experience has convinced you, agree with
your constitution, and absolutely to avoid all other.
A very different regimen must he observed by those who
live a life with labour, or exercise, or indolence; and at
the different periods of life.
Hliun life may be divided into Three, Stages.
The First, the period of 'preparation from our birth, till
about our 21st year, when the body has generally attain-
ed the acme of expansion: till then, a continual and co-
pious supply of chyle is necessary, not only to keep our
machinery in repair, but to furnish materials for the in-
crease of it.
The Second from 21 to 42, the period of active useful-
ness; during which, nothing more is wanted, than to res-
tore the daily waste, occasioned by the actions of the vital
and animal functions.
The Third, the period of decline: this comes on and
proceeds with more or less celerity, according to the ori-
ginal strength of the constitution, and the economy* with
which it has been managed during the second period.
(Age is a relative term, one man is as old at 40 as another
*"The excesses of our youth, are drafts upon our old ai^e, paya-
ble with interest, about twenty years after date."— Colton's La-
ten. 5th Edition, 1820. p. 51.
AND PROLONGING LIFE. 1 J
is at 60:) but after 42, the most vigorous become gradual-
ly more passive,* and after 63, pretty nearly quite so.
*The teeth are renewed at the 7th year.
Puberty arrives at twice seven .... 14
Full stature at three times seven - - - - 21
The vigour of growth at four times seven - - 28
The greatest vigour of body and mind at live times seven 35
The commencement of decay at six times seven - 42
General decay and decrease of energy, at seven times
seven _...-.-- 49
Old age at eight times seven - - - - -56
And the grand climacteric of the ancients at nine times
seven -------- 63
Dr. Jameson on the changes of the Human Body, p. 31.
16
THE ART OF IWIGORATINO
SIR WILLIAM JONES' ANDltOMETER.
3 6 9 11
Ideas received through the senses.
Speaking and Pronunciation.
Letters and Spelling.
Ideas retained in the memory.
Reading and Repeating
Grammar of his own Language.
Memory exercised.
Moral and Religious Lessons.
Natural History and Experiments.
Dancing, Music, Drawing, Exercise
History of his own Country.
Latin.
Greek.
French and Italian.
Translations.
Compositions in Verse and Prosr
Rhetoric and Declamation.
History and Law.
Logic and Mathematics.
Rhetorical Exercises.
Philosophy and Politics.
Composition in his own Language-
Declamations continued.
Ancient Orators studied.
Travel and Conversation
Speeches at the bar or in Parliament
State Affairs
Historical Studies continued
Law and Eloquence.
Public Life.
Private and Social Virtues.
Habits of Eloquence improved
Philosophy resumed at leisure
AND PROLONGING LIFE,
1
Orations published.
Exertions in State and parliament.
Civil Knowledge mature.
Eloquence perfect.
National Rights defended.
The Learned protected.
The Virtuous assisted.
Compositions published.
Science improved.'
Parliamentary Affairs.
Laws enacted and supported.
Fine Arts patronized.
Government of his Family.
Education of his Children.
Vigilance as a Magistrate.
Firmness as a Patriot.
Virtue as a Citizen.
Historical Works.
Oratorical Works.
Philosophical Works.
Political Works.
Mathematical Works.
} Continuation of former Pursuits.
J
Fruits of his Labour enjoyed.
\ glorious Retirement.
\n amiable Family.
Universal Respect.
Conscious of a -Virtuous Life.
\ Perfection of Earthly Happi;
Preparation for ETERNITY.
18 THE ART OF INVIGORATING
The most common cause of Dyspeptic Disorders, which
are so prevalent at the commencement of the third perj
od of life, is an increasing indolence, inducing us to di-
minish the degree of the active exercise we have heen
in the hahit of taking, without in a corresponding degree
diminishing the quantity of our food; on the contrary,
people seem to expect the stomach to grow stronger and
to work harder as it grows older, and to almost entirely
support the circulation without the help of exercise.
As the activity of our existence, and the accommodating
powers of the stomach, &c. diminish, in like degree, must
we lessen the quantity, and he careful of the quality of
our food, eat oftener and less at a time, or indigestion, and
the multitude of disorders of which it is the fruitful pa-
rent, will soon destroy us.
The system of Cornaro has heen oftener quoted, than
understood; most people imagine, it was one of rigid ab-
stinence and comfortless self-denial, hut this was not the
case: his code of longevity consisted in steadily obeying
the suggestions of instinct, and economizing his vitality,
and living under his income of health, carefully regula-
ting his temper, and cultivating cheerful habits.
The following is a Compendium of his plan, in his
oxen n-ords:
He tells us that zvhenj'ourecore
"I am used to take in all twelve ounces of solid nourish-
ment, such as meat, and the yolk of an egg, &x. and four-
teen ounces of drink: I eat bread, soup, new-laid eggs,
veal, kid, mutton, partridge, pullets, pigeons, &,c. and
some sea and river fish.
"1 made choice of such wines and meats as agreed with
my constitution, and declined all other diet, and propor-
tioned the quantity thereof to the strength of my stomach,
and abridged my food, as my years increased.
"Every one is the best judge of the food which is most
agreeable to his own stomach; it is next to impossible, to
judge what is best for another; the constitutions of men
are as different from each other as their complexions." —
p. 36.
"1st. Take care of the quality.
"2dly. Of the quantity, so as to eat and drink nothing
that offends the stomach, nor any more than you can ea-
sily digest: your experience ought to be your guide in
AND PROLONGING LIFE, 19
these two principles when you arrive at Forty: by that
time you ought to know that you are in the midst of life;
thanks to the goodness of your constitution which has car-
ried you so far; but that when you are arrived at thi? pe-
riod, you go down the hill apace, and it is necessary for
vou to change your course of life, especially with regard
to the quantity and quality of your diet, because it is on
that, the health and length of our days do radically depend.
Lastly; if the former part of our lives has been altogeth-
er sensual, the latter ought to be rational and regular; or-
der being necessary for the preservation of all things, cs
pecially. the life of man. Longevity cannot be attained
without continence and sobriety*/'
"At thirl'/, man suspects himself a fool,
Knows it at forty, and reforms his plan."
By the small quantity of food, and great proportion of
his meat to his drink, this noble Venetian, at the age of
forty, freed himself, by the advice of his Physicians,
from several grievous disorders contracted by intemper-
ance, and lived in health of body, and great cheerfulness
of mind, to above an hundred. — Brielry, the secret of his
long' • to have been, a gradual increasing tem-
perance - L 'm omnibus," and probabty after a certain time
of life, abstinence from the "opus magnum.' 1
The source of physical and moral health, happiness, and
longevity.
"Reason's whole pleasure, r- II the joys of sense
Lie in three words, health, peace, and competence.
But health consists in tempei mice alone;
And peace, oh Virtue ! Peace is all thy own." — PorE.
Intensive life, can onty be purchased at the price of ex-
tensive.
If you force the heart to gallop as fast during the. se
cond, as it does during the first stage of life, and make the
steady tire of 42, to blaze as brightly as the flame of 21.
it will very soon be burnt out.
*"Cornaro found that as the powers of his stomach declined with
the powers of life in general, that it i rj thafrbe should
diminish thi o doing, he retained tq
if health." — Absrifethy'S Surg. Oln- p. 71.
'iO the AET ur i.\vi(,ur,ATiM.
Those who cannot he content (o submit to that diminu-
tion of action ordained by nature, against which there is
no appeal, as it is the absolute covenant, by the most atten-
tive and implicit observance of which, we can only hope
to bold our lease of life comfortably; will soon bring to the
diminished energy of the second stage of life, the paraly-
sis of the third.
From 40 to 60, a witty French author tells us, is u La
belle saisori* pour la Gourmandise; for the artificial plea-
suits of the palate, it may be. and the Bon Vivant culti-
vates them as the means of prolonging the vigour of
youth, and procrastinating (he approach of age.
Restoration may certainly be considerably facilitated
by preparing and dressing food so as to render it easily sol-
uble; if the secret of Rejuvenization be ever discovered,
it will be found in the kitchen.
Very soon after we pass the meridian of life, (which ac-
cording to those who train men for athletic exercises, and
to Dr. Jameson,! is our 2Cth, and to Dr. Cheyne, about
our 35tn year,) the elasticity of the animal system imper-
ceptibly diminishes, our senses become less susceptible, and
are every hour getting the worse for wear, however self-
Jove, assisted by your hair-dresser, and taylor, &.c. may
endeavour to persuade you to the contrary.
Digestion and sleep are less perfect; the restorative
process more and more fails to keep pace with the consu-
ming process, the body is insufficiently repaired, more ea-
sily deranged, and with more difficulty brought into ad-
justment again; till at length the vital power being dimin-
ished, and the organs deteriorated, nourishment can nei-
ther be received, nor prepared and diffused through the
constitution; and consumption so much exceeds renova-
tion, that decay rapidly closes the scene of life.
One may form some idea of the- self-consumption of the
human body, by reflecting that the pulsation of the heart,
*Aud for culinary operators from 25 to 40. Before the former
they can hardly accumulate sufficient experience j and after the
latter they vvvry day lose a portion of their "bon gout" and ac-
tivity.
■fSee his sensible essay on the changes of the human body at
different ages. 3vo. 1811. — p. 89. J
A'N» FR.OLONGIN& LIFE. 2]
and the motion of the blood connected withit take*
place 100,000 times every day, i. e. on an average-
the pulse* beats 70 time sin a minute,
multiplied by 60 minutes in an hour.
4200
24 hours in a day.
16800
8400
108000 pulsations in a day.
"What machine, of the most adamantine material, will
not soon be the worse' for wear, from such incessant vi-
bration, especially if the mainsprings of it are not pre-
served in a state of due regulation.
The generative faculties, which are the last that nature
finishes, are the first that iail. .Economy in the exercise
of them, especially before and after the second period of
life, is the grand precept for the restoration and accumu-
lation of strength, the preservation of health, and the"
prolongation of life; we are vigorous in proportion to the
perfection of the performance of the restorative process,
i. e. as we eat heartily and sleep soundly; as our body los-
es the power of renovating itself, in like ratio, fails its fac-
ulty of creating; what may be a salutary subducticn of
the superfluous health of the second, during the third pe-
riod of life, will be a destructive sacrifice of the strength
of both the mind and the body. See also the 9th chapter
of the first edition of VVillioh on diet. 8vo. 1799.
The next organical defect, (we perceive too plainly for
*"The pulse in a new born infant, while placidly sleeping, is a-
bout ---- 140 in a minute
Towards the end of the first year - - - - 124
Towards the end of the second year - - - 110
Towards the end of the third and fourth years 96
When the first teeth drop out ----- fiij
At puberty ----------- 80
At manhood ----'------- 75
At sixty, about ---------- 00
Bdcmenbach's I' i 40.
The expectations of life are thus calculated by J>e Moivre.
Subtract the age of the person from 86, half the remainder will be
pectation of that life.
c
|2 TIIE ART OF INVIGORATING
our self-love to mistake it,) ismanifested by tin
To read a small print, you must remove ii from the eye
farther than you have been accustomed to do, and place
it in a better light.
The falsetto voice now begins to fail, and the ear
loses some of its quickness; several extraordinary musi-
cians have been able till then, if a handful of the keys of
a Harpsichord were put down so as to produce the most ir-
relative combinations, to name each half note without
a mistake. When 1 mentioned this to that excellent or-
gan player, Mr. Charles Wesley, he said, "at the age of
twenty, 1 could do it myself, but I can't now." He was
then in his 55th year.
About the same time, the palate is no longer contented
with being employed as a mere shovel to the stomach, and
;t finds its master becomes every day more difficult to
please, learns to be a more watchful purveyor.
After 40, the strongest people begin to talk about hcing
bilious or nervous, &c. &c. and the stomach will no longer
do its duty properly, unless the food offered to it is per-
fectly agreeable to it; when offended, indigestion brings
with it, all that melancholy depression of the animal spir-
its, which disables a man from either thinking with precis-
ion or acting with vigour, during the distressing suspen-
sion of the restorative process, arise all those miseries of
mind and body, which drives fools to get drunk, and make
madmen commit suicide; without due attention to diet,
&c. the third period of life is little better than a chronic
disease.
As cur assimilating powers become enfeebled, we must
endeavour to entertain them with a food so prepared, as
to give them the least trouble, and the most nourishment.!
In the proportion that cur food is restorative and pro-
perly digested, our bodies are preserved in health and
strength, and all bur faculties continue virgorous and per-
fect;
the history of a case of spectacles, &c. in page G\ of Dr.
N£r"s Practical Observations oil Telescopes^ Opera Glasses,
*See
Kitciiin
&c— Third Edition
t"In proportion the powers of the stomach are weak, c o .
.ye to dinrinish the qu , ,i,„i i\ :,
ion as possible."— Aberkei
■creations. ;
AND PROLONGING LIFE. 28
If it is unwholesome, ill prepared, and indigestible, the
"body languishes, and is exhausted even in its youth; its
strength and faculties daily decrease, and it sinks beneath
the weight of the painful sensations attendant on a state of
decay,
Would to Heaven that a cook could help our stomachs,
as much as an optician can our eyes: our existence would
be as much more perfect than it now is, as our sight is su-
perior to our other senses.
''The vigour of the mind decays with that of the body,
and not only humour and invention, but even judgment
and resolution, change and languish, with ill constitution
of body and of health/ 1 — Sir William Temple.
The following account of the successful reduction Q]
CORPULENCE AND IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH, the Editoi
can vouch for being a faithful statement of facts.
30th January, 1821.
My Dear Sir,
In consequence of the conversation I had with you, up-
on the advantages 1 had derived from exercise and atten-
tion to diet in the reduction of weight, .and your desire
that I should communicate as far as I recollect them, the
particulars of my case; I have great pleasure in forward-
ing to you the following statement :
I measure in height six feet and half an inch., possess
a sound constitution and considerable activity. At the
age of thirty I weighed about 10 stone; two years after-
wards I had reached the great weight of 19 stone, in per-
fect health, always sleeping well and enjoying good appe
tite and spirits; soon after, however, I began to expe-
rience the usual attendants on fullness of habit, a disincli-
nation to rise in the morning from drowsiness, a heavi-
ness about the forehead after I had risen, and a disposition
to giddiness; I was also attacked by a complaint in one of
my eyes, the symptoms of which it is unnecessary to des-
cribe, but it proved to be occasioned by fulness of blood,
as it was removed by cupping in the temple. I lost four
ounces of blood from the temple : and thinking that the
!o^s of a little more might be advantageous, I had eight
ounces taken from the back; and in order to prevent the
necessity as far as possible, of future bleeding, I resolved
to reduce the system, by increasing my exercise and dimin-
ishing my diet.
.{ THE ART OK INVI60RA TIXG LIFE.
I therefore took an curly opportunity of seeing Mr
Jackson, (whose respectability and skill as a teacher ot
sparring is universally acknowledged,) and after some con-
versation with him, determined upon acting under his ad-
vice.
I accordingly commenced sparring, having provided my-
self with flannel dresses, which I always used, being ex-
tremely careful on changing them to avoid the risk of
cold, and I recollect no instance in which I was not suc-
cessful.
I also had recourse to riding schools, riding without
stirrups, so as to have the advantage of the most power-
ful exercise the horse could give; these exercises I took
in the morning in the proportion probably of sparring
twice a week, and riding three or four times.
Frequently at night I resumed my exercise, walking
and sometimes running, generally performing about five
miles an hour, till 1 again produced perspiration; every
other opportunity I could resort to of bodily exercise 1 al
so availed myself of.
In respect to diet, I had accustomed myself to suppers
and drinking excellent table beer in large quantities, and
for probably ten years, had indulged myself with brandy
and water after supper: this practice I entirely discon-
tinued, substituting toast and water with my dinner, tea.
and a good allowance of toast" for supper, always avoiding
copious draughts.
I left off drinking malt liquor as a habit, and indeed,
very seldom drank it at all. I took somewhat less meat
at dinner, avoiding pies and puddings as much as possible,
but always took three or four glasses of port after dinner.
During the time I was under this training I took the
opinion of an eminent Physician upon the subject, who en-
tirely approved of my plan, and recommended the occa-
sional use of aperient medicine, but which I seldom resor-
ted to.
The result of all this, was a reduction of my weight of
upwards of three stone, or about forty-five pounds, in about
six or seven months; I found my activity very much in-
creased, and my wind excellent, but, I think, my strength
not quite so great, though I did not experience any mate-
rial reduction of it: my health was perfect throughout.
I then relaxed my system a little, and have up to th^
TO REDUCE CORPULENCE. 26
present time, being a period often years, avoided the ne-
cessity of bleeding, and have enjoyed an almost uninter-
rupted continuance of good health, although my weight
has gradually increased; sometimes, however, fluctuating
between 7 or 8 pounds and a stone, according to my means
of exercise, always increasing in winter, and losing in
summer; and at this moment (January 29th, 1821,) I am
about a stone more than I ought to be, having ascertained,
that my best bodily strength, is at sixteen stone and a
half.
When the object is to reduce weight, rest and moderate
food will always sufficiently restore the exhaustion arising
from exercise; if an additional quantity of food and
nourishing liquors be resorted to, the body will in gener-
al be restored to the weight it was before the exercise.
I have sometimes lost from ten ounces to a pound in
weight by an hours sparring. If the object be not re-
duced with the weight, the food may safely be proportion-
ed to the exercise
You will readily perceive, that the plan I adopted,
ought only to be reported to by persons of sound constitu-
tion and of athletic bodily frame. It would be absurd to
lay down a general rule for the adoption of all fat men.
I think, with all lusty men, the drinking of malt liquor
of any kind is injurious. Meat taken more than once a day
is liable to the same objection. I still persevere in the dis-
use of malt liquors and spirits, and suppers, seldom taking
more than four glasses of wine as a habit, although I do
not now deem it necessary to make myself so far the
slave of habit, as to refuse the pleasures of the table when
they offer.
I am dear sir, yours, very truly,
The following are the most interesting facts in Dr. Bry-
an Robinson's Essay on the food and discharges of the hu-
man body, 8vo. 1748, which has become scarce.
,"I am now, in May 1747, in the 68th year of my age.
The length of my body is 63 inches: I am of a sanguine
but not robust constitution, and am at present neither lean
nor fat. In the j r ear 1721 the morning weight of my bo-
dy without clothes was about 131 avoirdupois pounds; the
daily weight of my food at a medium was abont 85 avoir
2
THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
dupois ounces, and the proportion of my drink to my meat,
! judge amis at thai time abowt 2. 5 to 1.
-At the latter end of May 174-1, my weight was above
164 pounds, and the proportion of my drink to my meat
was considerably greater than before, and had been so for
some. time. I was then seized with a paralytic disorder,
which obliged me to make an alteration in my diet. In
order to settle the proportion of my drink to my meat, 1
considered what others have said concerning this propor-
tion.
"According to Sanctorious, though lie reckons it a dis-
proportion, the drink to the meat in his time, was about
10 to 3 in temperate bodies.
Cornaro'-s drink to his meat was as . . - 7 to 6
Mr. Rye's, in winter, as . . . .' . . 4 to 3
Dn. Lining's, at a medium Il't0'3
And my drink to my meat . . • • • 5 to 2
A mean taken from all these makes the drink to the meat,
about . . . • • 2 to 1
B. Robinson on Food and Discharges, p. 34.
"At the age of G4, lessening my food, and increasing the
proportion of my meat to my drink, i. e. by lessening my
drink about a third part (i. e. to 20 ounces) and my meat
about a sixth, (i. e. 38 ounces) of what they were in 1821.,
1 have freed myself for these two years past from the re-
turn of a sore -throat and diarrhoea, disorders I often had,
though they were but slight, and never confined me. 1
have been much more costive than 1 was before, when
I lived more fully, and took more exercise, and have
greatly for my age, recovered the paralytic weakness I
was seized with three years ago.
"Hence we gather that good and constant health con-
sists in a just quantity of food; and a just proportion of
the meat to the drink : and that to he freed from chroni-
cal disorders contracted by intemperance, the quantity of
food ought to be lessened; and the proportion of the
meat to the drink increased, more or less according to
the greatness of the disorders, p. 61,
"] commonly ate four ounces of bread and butter, and
drank half a pound of a very weak infusion of green
tea for breakfast. For dinner I took two ounces of bread,
and the rest flesh-meat, beef, mutton, pork, veal, hare,
rabbit, goose, turkey, fowl, tame and wild, and fish. 1
generally chose the strongest meats as fittest, since they
TO REDUCE CORPULENCE. -?
agreed well with my stomach, to keep up the power of
mv body under this great diminution of my food; I seldom
took any garden stvjf, finding that it commonly lessened
perspiration and i?icrcased my weight. I drank four ounces
of water with my meat and a pound of claret after I had
done eating. At night I ate nothing, but drank 12 ounces
of water with a pipe of Tobacco, p. 63.
'•There is but one weight, under which a grown body
can enjoy the best and most uninterrupted health, p. 91.
That weight is such as enables the heart to supply the sev-
eral parts of the body with just quantities of blood, page
100.
The weight under -which an animal has the greatest
strength and activity, which I shall call its athletic weight,
is that weight under which the heart and the proportion
of the weight of the heart to the weight of the body are
greatest: the strength of the muscles is measured by the
strength of the heart, p. 117.
"Ii the weight of the body of an animal be greater than
its athletic weight, it may be reduced to that weight by
evacuations, dry food and exercise. These lessen the
weight of the body, by wasting its fat and lessening its liv-
er; and they increase the weight of the heart by increas-
ing the quantity and motion of the blood. Thus a game
cock in ten days is reduced to its athletic weight, and pre-
pared for righting. ,
"If the food, which with evacuations and exercise, re-
duced the cock to his athletic weight in ten days, be con-
tinued any longer, the cock will not have that strength
and activity which he had 1 efore under his athletic weight:
which may be owing to the loss of weight going on after
he arrives at his athletic weight.
"It is know by experiment, that a cock cannot stand a-
bove 24 hours at his athletic weight, and that acock has
changed very much for the worse in 12 hours.
"When a cock is at the top of his condition, that is,
when he is at his athletic weight, his head is of a glowing-
red colour, his neck thick, and his thigh thick and firm;
the day after his complexion is less glowing, his neck thin
ner and his thigh softer; and the third day his thigh wil-1
be very soft and flaccid, p. 1 J 9.
"If the increase of weight in a small compass of time,
rise to above a certain quantity it will cause disorders,
I-, THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
"lean bear an increase of above a pound and a half in
one day, and an increase of three or four pounds in six or
seven days, without being disordered: but think I should
suffer from an increase of live or six pounds in that time.
"An increase of weight may be carried off by lessen-
ing the food, or by increasing the discharges. The dis-
charges may be increased either by exercise, or by evacu-
ations procured by art.
"By lessening the daily quantity of my food to 23 oun-
ces, I have lost 26 ounces,- by fasting a whole day, I lost
48 ounces, having gained 27 the day before.
"Mr. Rye was a strong, well set, corpulent man, of a
sanguine complexion; by a brisk walk for one hour before
breakfast he threw off, by insensible perspiration, one
pound of increased weight; by a walk of three hours, he
threw off two pounds of increased weight. The best way
to take off an increase of weight which threatens a dis-
temper, is either by fasting or exercise, p. 84.
"The mean loss of weight by several grown bodies:
caused by a purging medicine composed of. a drachm of
Jalap and ten grains of Calomel, was about 2 3-4 avoirdu-
pois pounds; and the mean quantity of liquor, drank dur-
ing the time of purging, was about double the loss of
weight. — Robinson on the animal economy, p. 458.
"I have lost, by a spontaneous Diarrhoea, two pounds in
twenty-four hours; and Mr. Rye lost twice that quantity
in the same time." — On the food and discharges of human
bodies, by B. Robinson, p. 84.
"Most Chronic Diseases, arise from too much food and
too little exercise, both of which lessen the weight of the
heart and the quantity of blood ; the first by causing fat-
ness; the second by a diminution of the blood's motion.
"Hence, wheft the liver is grown too large by intem-
perance and inactivity, it may be lessened and brought to
a healthful magnitude by temperance and exercise. It
may be emptied other ways by art; but nothing can pre-
vent its filling again, and consequently secure good and
constant health, but an exact diet and exercise. Purging
and vomiting may lessen the liver, and reduce it to its
just magnitude; but these evacuations cannot prevent its
increasing again eo long as persons live too fully, and use
too little exercise, and can only be done by lessening the
food and increasing the exercise. 1 "
"Much sleep, much food, and little exercise, are th'
SLEEP. ^9
principal things which make animals grow fat. If the
body, on account of age or other infirmities cannot use
sufficient exercise, and takes much the same quantity of
sleep, its weight must be lessened by lessening the food,
which may be done by lessening the drink, without mak-
ing any change in the meat; as 1 have proved myself by
experience. " — p. 90.
On this subject, see also, Dr. Stark on Diet, raid Sanc-
torius' Medicinq Statica. Dr. Heming on Corpulency .
Mr. Wadd on Corpulency. Dr. Arbutjunot on Aliment.
SLEEP.
VVVien iirtvl willi vain rotutinns of the dflV,
Sleep winds us up tor the succeeding dawn." Young.
HEALTH may be as much injured by interrupted and
insufficient sleep, as by luxurious indulgence.
Valetudinarians who regularly retire to rest, and arise
at certain hours, are unable, without injurious violence to
iheir feelings, to resist the inclination to do so.
"Pliant nature more or less demands
As custom forms her ; and all sudden change
She hates, of habit, even from bad to good.
If faults in life, or new emergencies
From Habits* urge you by long time confirrn'd,
Slow must the change arrive, and stage by stage,
Slow as the stealing progress of the year."
Armstrong's Art of Preserving Health.
How important it is, then, to cultivate good and conven-
ient habits: Custom will soon render the most rigid rules,
not only easy but agreeable.
"The strong, by bad habits, crow weaker, we know,
And by good ones, the weak will grow stronger also."
*"Nothingis a greater enemy to a feeble life, than laying aside
old habit c , or leaving a climate, or place, to which one has been
lone accustomed: the irritation occasioned by ?uch changes i«
highly prejudicial.
"Even pernicious habits, insalubrious air, Sic. must be abandon-
ed with great caution, <<r we shall thereby hasten the end of afij
patient,." — Strhvb's Jlsthenoiogy, \>.
THE AHT OP INI ICORATTNii LIFE,
The debilitated require much more rest than the robust
nothing is so restorative to the ihm\ ( s, as sound and iiuin-
terrupted sleep, which is the chief source of both bodily
and mental strength.
The studious need a full portion of sleep, which seems
to be as necessary nutriment to the brain, as food is (o the
stomarh.
Our strength and spirits are infinitely more exhausted
by the exercise of our mental, than by the labour of our
corporeal faculties; let any person try the effect of intense
application for a few hours, he will soon find how much his
body is fatigued thereby, although he has not stirred from
the chair he sat on.
Those who are candidates for health, must be as circum-
spect in the task they set their mind, as in the exercise
'hey give to their body.
Dr. Armstrong, the poet of health, observes,
,"•■ i"<"' m4 of life to manage well
The restli mind."
The grand secret seems to be, to contrive that the exer-
cise of the body, and that of the mind may serve as relax
ations to each other.
Over exertion or anxiety of mind, disturbs digestion in-
finitely more than any fatigue of body : the brain demands
•< much more abundant supply of the animal spirits than
is required for the excitement of mere legs and arm>.
'"Tis the sword that wears out the scabbard,"
Of the two ways of fertilizing the brain, by sleep, or
by spirituous stimulus, (for some write best in the morning,
others when wound up with wine, after dinner or supper:)
the former is much less expensive, and less injurious to
the constitution than either Port or brandy, whose aid it
js said that some of our best authors have "been indebted
to, for their most brilliant productions.
Calling one day on a literary friend, we found him re-
clining on a sofa; on expressing our concern to find him
indisposed, he said, "No, 1 was only hatching, I have been
writing till I was quite tired, my paper must go to press to
day, so 1 was taking my usual restorative— A Map— which
if it only lasts live minutes, so lefreshes my mind, that my
pen goes to work again spontaneously."
SLEEP. 31
Is it not better economy of time, to go to sleep for half
an hour, than to goon noodling all day in a nerveless and
semi-superannuated state; if not asleep, certainly not ef-
fectively awake, for any purpose requiring the energy of
either the body or the mind.
li A Forty JViaks JVap," in a horizontal posture, is the
best preparative for any extraordinary exertion of either.
Those who possess and employ the powers of the.mind
most, seldom attain the greatest age:* See Brunard de
V Hygiene des gens de Letlres, Paris, 8vo. 1819: the envy
their talent excites; the disappointment they often meet
with in their expectations of" receiving the utmost atten-
tion and respect, "(which the world has seldom the grati-
tude to pay them while they live,) keep them in a perpet-
*"T/hose who have lived longest, have been persons without
eitheravarice or ambition, enjoying that tranquillity of soul, which
is the the happiness and health of our early days, and
strangers to those torments of mind which usually accompany
more advanced years, and by which the body is wasted and con-
sumed. ' — Code- of Health, vol. i. p. GO — 83, fcc.
'•In the return made by Dr. Robertson, (and published bj- Sir
John Sinclair, in the 164th page of the second volume of the
Appendix to his Code of Health) from Greenwich Hospital, ol
2410 in-prisoners, ninety-six, i. c. about one-twenty-fifth are be-
yond eiirhty; thirteen beyond ninety, and one beyond one hun-
dred. They almost all used Tobacco, and most of then) acknowl-
edged the habit of drinking freely. Some of them had no teeth
for twenij years, and fourteen only had good ones; one who was
one hundred and thirteen years old, had lo^t all his teeth upward.;
of thirty years.
The organ of vision was impaired in about one half; that of
hearing in only one fifth: this may be accounted for, the eye is a
more delicate organ than the ear, and the least deterioration of it s
action is more immediately observed. Of the ninety-six almost
all had been married, and four of them after eighty years of age :
only nine were bachelors; this is a strong argument in favour of
matrimony.
"7 1 \ all other circumstances being favour-
able, are between the eighteenth and twent) -fifth year for females,
and between the twenty-fifth and thirty-sixth for males. The bo-
dy is then in the most compl fce stati to pro a ;ate a healthy off-
spring; the ages when the prolific powers begin to ceas,e in both
will nearly correspond ; and the probable expectation of life
will be sufficiently long, for parents to provide for their children."
Jameson on the -'- ''/, i>. 336.
8fi THE AHT ©P INVIGORATING MFI
ual state of irritation and disquiet, which frets them pre
maturely to their grave.*
JTo rest a whole day, under great fatigue of either body
or mind, is occasionally extremely beneficial; it is impos-
sible to regulate sleep by the hour; when the mind and the
bod}' have received all the refreshment which sleep can
give, people cannot lie in bed, and till then they should
not •rise.t
'•Preach not mo your musty rules
Ye drones, that mould in idle cell;
The heart is wiser than the schools,
The senses always reason well." — Comus.
Our philosophical poet here gives the best practical
maxim on the subject for Valetudinarians, who, by following
his advice, may render their existence, instead of a dull un-
varied round of joy less, useless self-denial, a circle of agree-
able sensation; for instance, go not to your bed till you are
tired of sitting up, then remain in an horizontal posture,
till you long to change it for a vertical: thus, by a little
management, the inevitable business of life may be con-
verted into a source of continual enjoyment.
All-healing sleep soon neutralizes the corroding caustic
of care, and blunts even the barbed arrows of the marble-
hearted fiend, Ingratitude.
When the pulse is almost paralysed by anxiety, half an
hour's repose, will cheer the circulation, restore tranquil-
lity to the perturbed spirit, and dissipate those heavy
clouds of ' Ennui, which some times threaten to eclipse the
brightest minds, and best hearts. Child of wo, lay thy
head on thy pillow, (instead of thy mouth to the bottle.)
and bless me for directing thee to the true source of lethe,
and most sovereign Nepenthe for the sorows of human life.
♦"Regular and sufficient sleep, serves on the one hand, for re-
pairing the lost powers, and on the other, for lessi imp-
tiort, by lessening vital activity. Hence the lives of p<
arc exposed to the most debilitating fatigue, are prolonged in a
considerable age, when theyenjoj Bleepin its fullest extent," —
Str.tjve's Asthenology, 8vo. 1801, p. 199.
t"It is a perfect barbarism to awake any one, when sleep, thai
"balm of hurt minds," is exerting its benign influence, and the
worn bodj is receiving its most cheering restorative." — Hintt
tke ptr^servatioji of health, 12mo if
SLEEP. 33
The time requisite to restore the waste occasioned by
the action of the day, depends on the activity of the hab-
its, and on the health of the individual; in general it can-
not be less than seven, and need not be more than nine
hours.*
Invalids will derive much benefit from indulging in the
Siesta whenever they feel languid.
A sailor will tell you, that a seaman can sleep as much
m five hours, as a landsman can in ten.
Whether rising very early lengthens life we know not,
but think that sitting up very late shortens it, and recom-
mend you to rise by eight, and retire to rest by eleven; your
feelings will bear out the adage, that "one hour's rest
before midnight, is worth tu-o after."
When old people have been examined with a view to
ascertain the causes of their longevity, they have uniform-
ly agreed in one thing only, that they all went to bed ear-
ly, and rose early,
'lEarly to bed, and early to ri=e,
Will make you healthy, wealthy and wise."
Dr. Franklin published an ingenious essay on ihe ad-
vantage of early rising. He called it "An Economical.
Project,' 1 '' and calculated, that the saving that might be
made in the city of Paris, by using sunshine instead of can-
dles, at no less than £4,000,000 sterling.
If the delicate, and the nervous, the very youn«-, or the
very old, sit up beyond their usual hour, they feel the
want of artificial aid, to raise their spirits to what is no
more than the ordinary pitch of those who are in the vig
our of their life; and must fly from the festive board, or
purchase a few hours of hilarity at the heavy price of
head-ach and dispepsia for many days after; and a terri-
* In high health seven or eight hours will complete tins refresh-
ment, and hence arises the false inference drawn from an obsen i-
tion probably just, that long-lived persona are always early risers •
not that early rising makes them long-liyed, but thai people in the
highest vigour of health are naturally earl) rise i . they
Sleep more soundly, and al! that repose c in do for them, is done in
less time, than with those who sleep le • soundly, A disposition
to he in bed beyond the astiaj hour, generally arises from some
derangement of the digestive organs.— Hints for th> preservation of
health, p. 3?. *
D
34 ART OF PROLONGING I. IF I'.
ble exasperation of any chronic complaint they are ad-
dicted with.
When the body and mind are both craving repose, fcp
• their action, by the spur of spirituous stimulus, is the
most extravagant waste of the "Vis Vn.t," that fashion
ever invented to consume her foolish votaries, for fools
certainly are who mortgage the comfort of a week,
for the conviviality of an hour, with the certainty of their
term of life being speedily foreclosed by gout, palsey, &c
Among the most distressing miseries of this '-Elysium
of Bricks and Mortal," maybe reckoned how rarely we
enjoy "the sweets of slumber unbroke,"
Sound passes through the thin party walls of modem
houses, (yaldch of the first rate, at the Fir.!; pj vcr.. dre oy
'■/four inches in thickness;) with most Unfortunate facility;
is really an evil of the first magnitude, if you are
so unlucky as to have for next door neighbours, fashiona-
ble folks who turn night into day, or such as delight in
the sublime economy of cinder-saving or cobweb catch-
ing; it is in vain to seek repose before the former has in-
dulged in the evening's recreation of raking out the fire,
and has played v. ith the poker till it has made all the red
coals black; or, after Molidusta, the tidy one. has awoke
the morn, with '-the broom, the bonny, bonny broom."
A determined dusthuftter or cindersaver, murders its
neighbour's sleep, with as little mercy, as Macbeth did
-Malcolm's, and bangs doors, and rattles window shut
till the "earth trembles, and air is aghast!"
All attempts to conciliate a savage who is in this fancy,
will he labour in vain; the arrangement of its firf
equally the occupation of the morning, and the amuse-
ment of the evening; the preservation of a cinder, and
the destruction of a cobweb, are the main business of its
existence: the best advice we can give you, gentle read-
er, is to send it book, and beseech it to place the
following pages opposite to its optic nerves some morning,
after you have diverted it from sleep every half hour du-
the preceding night.f
ler is a pair of steak-tongs.
he method taken to tame unruly colts, &c. is to walk (hem a-
i' the night previous to attempting to break them :
SLEEP.
Counsellor Scribblefast, a special pleader, who Lived
on a ground floor in the Temple, about the time thai Ser
geant Ponder who dwelt on the lirst door, retired to rest,
began to practise his Violoncello, "and his loud voice in
thunder spoked The student above, by way of giving
him a gentle hint, struck up "Gently strike the Warbling
Lure," and Will. Harmony's favorite Hornpipes' of "Dont
Yc" and "Pray be Quici:" however the dolce and pianis-
simo of poor Ponder produced no diminution of the pres-
tissimo and fortissimo of the indefatigable Scribblefast.
Ponder, pra}ed -silence in the court,'' 1 and complain-
ed in most pathetic terms, but, alas! his "lowly suit and
plaintive ditty'* made not the least impression on him who
was beneath him. He at length procured a set of sket
lies, and as soon as his musical neighbour had done fid
dliug, be began constrepiio, and bawled away merrilv till
the morning dawned. The enraged musician did not wait
long after day light lo put in his plea against such pro-
ceedings, and receired in reply, that sue!; exercise had
been ordered by a physician, as the properest paregoric,
after being disturbed by the thoroughbass of the big fid-
dle below; this soon convinced the tormentor of catgut,
who dwelt on the ground-floor, that he could not annoy his
superior with impunity, and produced silence on both
sides.
People are very unwisely inconsiderate how much it is
their own interest to attend to the comforts of their neigh-
hours, tor which we have a divine command ''to love our
neighbour as ourself " "-"»*•; Mere ton. ut alienum non lee-
das^ is the max:m of our English law. Interrupting
ones sleep is as prejudicial lo health, as any of the nuisan-
ces Blackstone enumerates as actionable.
The majority of the dogs, parrot*, piano-fortes, &.c. in
this metropolis, are actionable nuisances!!!
However inferior in rank and fortune, &c your next
door neighbour may be, there are moments whe he may
render you. the most valuable service. "A lion owed his
life to the exertions of a mouse."
Those who have not the power to please, should have
of leen speedily snbdues the spirit of the wildest, and the
trength of iji. strongest creatures, and renders savage animals
tame and trnctable.
86 THE ART ©F INVIGORATING f.IIK.
the discretion not to offend; the most huinhle niny hare
opportunities to return a : W resent an insult.
Ii is .in. In as to h a i one.
There i^ plenty of inr.r {! r the performance of all of-
fensiveh uois} operptii us i etween lQin the morning and
10 at night, during e industrious housemaid may
indulge her arms in their ful sw'i g and while ne polish-
es herblat k leaded grate to the lustre «vhi< h is so iovely
intheeyesof i Tai Too her brush strikes
up against its side niaj i m< ■■<! w ithout distressing
the ears of hei nervous neighbours, to whom undisturbed re-
pose is the most viiol nourishm
Little Sweep Soot /<V is another dreadful disturber. The
shriii screaming of these poor boys, "making night hid-
eous, 11 (i idee I at any time) at five or six o'cock in cold
dark weather, is a most barbarous custom, and frequently
disturbs a whole street before thej rouse tne drowsy slug-
gard who sent for him; his raw dy dura when he Teaches
the top of the chimney, and his pr< gies? down again, awa-
ken the soundest sleepers, who often wish, that, instead of
the chimney, he was smiting the skull of the barbarian
who set the poor child to work at such an unreasonable
hou,-.
The editor's feelings are trembling alive on this subject.
"Finis coronat opus.'"
» However soundly he has slept during the early part of the
night, if the finishing nap in the morning is interrupted
from continuing to its natural termination, his whole sys-
tem is shook by it, and all that sleep has before done for
him, is undone in an instant; he gets up distracted and
languid and the only part of his head that is of any use to
him, is the hole between the nose and chin.
The (inn health of those who live in the country, arises
not merely from breathing a purer air, but from quiet and
regular habits, especially the enjoyment of plenty of un*
disturbed repose; this enables them to take exercise, which
give them an appetite, and by taking their food at less dis-
tant and more equally divided intervals, they receive a
more regular supply of that salutary nourishment, which
is necessary to restore the wear of the system, and support
it in an uniform state of excitement, equally exempt from
the languor of inanition, and the fever of repletion
SLEEP,
Thus, the animal functions are performed with a per-
fection and regularity , the tranquillity of which, in the
incessantly irregular habits of a town-life, is continually
interrupted ; some ridiculous anxiety or other consumes
the animal spirits, and the important process of restora-
tion is imperfectly performed.
Dyspeptic and nervous disorders, and an inferior degree
of both extensive and intensive life* are the inevitable
consequence, and are the lowest price for (what is called)
the pleasures of fashionable society.
Dr. Cadogan has told us (very truly) that chronic dis-
eases, (and we may add, most of those equivocal disorders,
which are continually teasing people, but are too insignif-
icant to induce them to institute a medical process to re-
move them.) are caused by indolence, intemperance and
vexation.
It is the fashion to refer all these disorders to debility;
but debility is no more than the effect of indolence, intem-
perance, and vexation; the two first are under our own
immediate control, and temperance, industry, and activi-
ty, are the best remedies to prevent or remove the debili-
ty which reduces our means of resisting the third.
During the summer of lifef i. e. the second period of it,
(see page 14.) while we hope that every thing may come
right, the heart bounds with vigour, and the vital flame
burns too brightly to be much, or long subdued by vexa-
tion.
This originally least cause, soon becomes the greatest,
and in the autumn of our existence, when experience has
dissipated the theatric illusion with which hope varnished
*Jn Vienna, Berlin, Pari-, and London, the twentieth or twenty
third person dies annually; while, in the country around them,
the proportion is only one in thirty or forty; in remote country
villages, from one in forty to one in fifty ; the smallest degree it
human mortality on record is one in sixty.
+"When warm with hope, in life's aspiring morn,
The tints of fancy every scene adorn,
The glowing litnd-cape charms the poet's view,
And youth believes the fairy prospect true ;
But soon, experience proves his eye betray'd,
And all the picture darkens into shade."-^-FiTZeERAlU),
'/. aulifulhj set to music by Shield, and printed in his Canto.
D2
THE ART OF INVIGORATING M* 1
the expectations of our earlier days, we begin to feai
that e , ci y thing - will go wrong £
"The Whi j s and scorns of timi ,
The oppressor's wror id man's contumely.
The pangsof despis'd Jove, the law's delay,
The insolence of office, and th< spurns
That patient meril oi' the unworthy takes.'"
The insatiable ruling passion of the second and third pe
viods of life; ambition and avarice, the loss of our first
and best friends, our parents, regret for the past, and anx
about the future, prevent the enjoyment of the pre-
sent, and are the cause of those nervous and bilious disor-
ders which attack most of us at the commencement of the
third period of life; these precursors of palsy and gout,
may generally be traced to" disappointment arid anxiety of
mind;* and people need not groan about the insanities
and absurdities of others, it is surely quite sufficient to suf-
fer for our own, of which most of us have plenty; we
ought to endeavour to convert those of others, into caus-
es of comfort and consolation, instead of fretting about
them; if you receive rudeness in return for civility, and
titude for kindness, it may move your pity, but should
never excite your anger; instead of murmuring at Heav-
en for having created such crazy creatures! be fervently
•■"Above all, it is of essential importance to health, to preserve
the tranquillity of the mind, and not to sink under the disapj oint-
ments of life, to which all, but particularly the old, arc frequent-
ly exposed.
"Nothing ought to disturb the mind of an individual who is con-
scious of having done all the good in his power." — Sinclair's
Code of -Health, p. 459.
"Nothing hurts more the nervous system, and particularly the
concofctive powers, than fear, grief, or anxiety." — Whytt on
■■ p. 349.
"] shall add to my list, as the eighth deadly sin, that of a.vxikty
of Mrtfll); and resolve not to be pining and miserable, when J
to be grateful and happy." — Sir Thomas Bernard, lit.
on Hie Comforts of Old Age, p. 135.
"Anguish of mind has driver, thousands to suicide; anguish of
body, none.
"This proves that the health of the mind is of far more conse-
e to our happiness than the health of the body; both are
\ing of much more attention than either of tbeui receive.'" —
Utcon, 1820. p. 240.
SLLCP. 3;f
thankful that you are not equally inconsistent and ridicu-
lous, and pray, that, your own mind, may not be afflicted
with the like aberrations.
Indigestion,* is the chief cause of perturbed sleep, and
often excites the imaginary presence of that troublesome
bedfellow the nightmare. On this subject see Peptic Pre-
cepts, (Index.)
Some cannot sleep if they eat any supper, and certain-
ly the lighter this meal is, the better. Others, need not
put on their night cap, if they do not first bribe their
stomachs to good behaviour by a certain quantity of
bread and cheese and beer, &c. Lc. and go to bed almost
immediately after.
As to the wholesomeness of a solid supper, per se, we do
not think it advisable, but habit may have made it indis-
pensable, and we know it is often the most comfortable
meal among the middle ranks of society, who have as
large a share of health has any.
We caution bad sleepers to beware how they indulge in
the habit of exciting sleep, by taking any of the prepara-
tions of Opium, they are all injurious to the stomach, and
often inconvenient in their effects upon the bowels:
"Repose by small fatigue is earned, and weariness can
snore upon the Hint, when nesty sloth, finds a down pil-
low hard."
As there can be no good digestion without diligent mas-
tication, so there can be no sound sleep without sufficient
exercise,
The most inoffensive and agreeable anodyne is to drink
some good white wine, or mulled wine, by way of a sup-
plement to your night cap. One glass, taken when in bed,
immediately before lying down, is as effective as two or
three if you sit up any time after. — See Ttwahdiddle, No.
-167.)
Many people, if awoke during their first sleep, are un-
settled all that night, and uncomfortable and nervous the
following day. The first sleep of those who eat suppers,
commonly terminates when the food passes from the stom-
ach. Invalids then awake, and sometimes remain so, in
* u Sleep i? sound, sweet and refreshing, according as the aliment-
ary organs are ea-?v, quiet, and clean.' 1 '' — Chevne on Long Lif\
j). 79.
40 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
a feverish state, the stomach feeling discontented from
being unoccupied, and having nothing to play with; a
small cni9t of bread, or a bit of biscuit well chewed, ac-
companied or not, as experience and instinct will sug-
gest, with a few mouthsful of mutton or beef broth (No.
564,) or toast and water (No. 463,)* or single grog,* (i. e.
one brandy to nine waters,) will often restore its tranquil-
lity, and catch sleep again, which nothing invites so irre-
sistibly, as introducing something to the stomach, that
will entertain it, without fatiguing it.
We* have heard persons say they have heen much cii-
tressed by an intemperate craving for food when they a-
woke out of their first sleep, and have not got to sleep
soundly again after, and risen in the morning as tired as
when they went to bed at night, but without any appetite
for breakfast; such will derive great benelit from the
foregoing advice. \
A broth (No. 564,) or gruel (No. 572) supper, is perhaps
the best for the dyspeptic, and those who have eaten and
drank plentifully at dinner.
The bed roOm should be in the quietest situation possi-
ble, as it were "The Temple of Silence" and, if possible,
not less than 16 feet square: the height of this apartment,
in which wepass almost half our time, is in modern houses
absurdly abridged, to increase that of the drawing room,
which is often not occupied once a month : instead of liv-
ing in the pleasant part of the house, where they might
enjoy light and air, how often do we find people squeezing
themselves into "a nice snug parlour," where Apollo can-
not spy.
We do not recommend either curtaiasov tester, he. to the
bed, especially during the summer; by the help of these,
those who might have the benelit of the free circulation
of air in a large room, very ingeniously contrive to re-
duce it to a small closet: Chimney-boards and window-
curtains are also inadmissible in a bed room; but valetu-
dinarians who are easily awoke, or very susceptible of
cold, will do wisely to avail themselves of well made
*"The grog en board a ship is generally one spirit and three wa-
ters, (Ma is too strong. — See the Hon. JohK Ccchrane's Seatnou'
Guide^ Cvo. 4797, p. 37.
SLEEP, 41
double* windows and doors, these exclude both noise and
cold in a very considerable degree
The best bed is a well stuffed arid well curled horsehair
mattress, six inches thick at the head, gradually diminish-
ing to three at feet, on this another mattress five or six
inches in thickness: these should be unpicked and expos-
ed to the air, once every year. An elastic horsehair mat-
tress, is incomparably the most pleasant, as well as the
most wholesome bed.
Bed rooms should be thoroughly ventilated by leaving
both the window and the door open etery day when the
weather is not cold or damp, during which the bed ghould
remain unmade, and the clothes be taken off and spread
out for an hour, at least, before the bed is made again.
In very hot weather, the temperature becomes considera-
bly cooler every minute after ten o'clock; between eight
o'clock and twelve, the thermometer often falls in sultry
weather, from ten to twenty degrees, and those who can
sit up till twelve o'clock will have the advantage of sleep-
ing in an atmosphere many degrees cooler, than those
who go to bed at ten : this is extremely important to nerv-
ous invalids, who however extremely they may suffer
from heat, we cannot advise to sleep with the smallest part
of the window open during the night; in such sultry daySj
the Siesta (see page 42,) will not only be a gi'eaf support
against the heat, but will help you to sit up i-o enjoy the
advantage above stated.
Jljireinthc bed room, is sometimes indispensable, but
not as usually made; it is commonly lighted only just be-
fore bedtime, and prevents sleep by the noise it makes,,
and the unaccustomed stimulus of its light.
Chimnej'S frequently smoke when a fire is first lighted,
particularly in snowy and frosty weather: and an invalid
has to encounter not only the damp and cold of the room,
but has his lungs irritated with the sulphoreous puffs from
the fresh lighted tire.
A fire should be lighted about three or four hours be-
fore, and so managed that it may burn entirely out half
an hour before you go to bed, then the air of the room will-
be comfortably warm, and certainly more fit to receive an
*If they are not extremely well made, by a superior workman,
and »f seasoned wood, they arc of little or no use,
\2 THE ART OF INVIGORATING MFC.
invalid who has heen sitting- all day in a parlour ns hot
as an oven, than a damp chamber, that is as cold
well
THE SIESTA
THE power of position and temperature to alleviate the
paroxysms of many chronic disorders, has not received
the consideration it deserves; a little attention to the va-
riation of the pulse, will soon point out the effect they
produce on the circulation, &c. extremes of heat and cold,
with respect to food, drink, and air, are equally to be guar-
ded against.
Old and cold stomach;:, the gouty, and those whose di-
gestive faculties are feeble, should never have any thing
cold* or old put into them, especially in cold weather.
Food must take the temperature of our stomachs, (which
is probably not less than 120.) before digestion can com-
mence.
When the stomach is feeble, cold food frequently pro-
duces flatulence, palpitation of the heart, &c. and all the
other troublesome accompaniments of indigestion. The
immediate remedy for those ir, hot Lmndy «ad water, and
the horizontal posture.
Dyspeptic invalids will tind 75 a good temperature for
(heir drink at dinner, and 120 for tea, &c.
Persons who are in a state of debility.. from age, or oth
or causes, will derive much benefit from lying down.
seeking repose whenever they feel fatigued, especially
during (the first half-hpur at least of) the business of di-
gestion, and will receive almost as much refreshment from
half an hour's sleep, as from half a pint of wine.
The restorative influence of the. r ecu ml ent posture, cannol
* li Cold drink is an enemy to concoction, and the parent o!
n 'Warm Beer, 8vo. p. 15.
THE SI1 STA.
5 e conceived; the increased energy it gives to the circu-
lation, and to ihe organs of digestion, can only be under-
stood by those invalids who have experienced the com-
forts of it.
77;. fiesta is not only advisable, but indispensable to
those whose occupations oblige them to keep late hours.
Actors especially, whose profession is, of all others,
the most fatiguing, and requires both the mind and the
body Co be in the most intense exertion between 10 and 12
o'clock at night, should avail themselves of the siesta,
which is the true scarce of energy; half an hour's re-
in the horizontal posture, is a most beneficial res
'VC.
Good beef tea* (No. 563,) with a little bit of slightly
toasted bread taken about nine o'clock, is a comfortabli
restorative, which will support you through exertions that,
without such assistance, are exhausting, and you go to bed
jued, and get up (levered,, Lc.
When performers feel nervous, kc. and fear the circula-
tion is below par, and too languid to afford the due excitc-
'- half an hour before they sing. &c. they will do >.
i v. to vs iod up their • ith a little "Balsamum Vi
••Pei'tic Precepts, 1 ' or tunc I heir throats to the
i of healthy vibration with asnaall glass of Johns'
Ite Curacoa," see (No. 474) and Index, a glass of
•inc. or other stimulus.
£0 "wet your whistle," is occasionally, as absolutely
T i mak< beee tea- — Cut a pound of lean gravy meat into
. put it into a quart and a half a pint of cokl water, - t
it "•. r a gentle fire where it will become gradually warm, when
■ . the saue* | ii contin-
ue boiling for about two hours. Skim 1 1 I "run if thr
a sieve or napkin, skim it again; let it stand ten minutes to settle,
»ur ofl the clear I
i i, ° '" halfapinj *in five minutes for three half-
Vo. 252,) and to make good mutton broth for nothing,
(No. 490,) of theihird edition of the "Cook's Oracle;"
N. U. An onion, and a few grains of blai are some-
'. If the meat is boiled till it is thorough^ tender,
it, and pound it as directed in (No. 503) of THE Cook's
Oracle, and you have a dish pf potted beef Tor the trouble of mak-
ing it.
; Bra liqueur Merchant, No. 2, Colonnade, Pall Mail.
44 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
siccessary, as "to rosin the how of a violin." See "ob-
servations on vocal music," prefixed to the opera of
Ivajihoe.
Actors and Singers, are continually assailed by a va
riety of circumstances extremely unfavourable to health,
especially from sitting 1 up late at night, to counteract
which, we recommend the Siesta, and plenty of exercise
in a pure air.
When they feel nervous, bilious, he. i. e. that their
whole system is so deranged by fatigue and anxiety, that
they cannot proceed effectively and comfortably, they
must give their throats two or three day's rest, cleanse the
alimentary canal with peristaltic persuaders, see Index,
and corroborate the organs of digestion with the tonic
tincture (No. 569,) see Index.
Strong Peppermint Lozenges, made by Smith, Fell
Street, Wood Street, Cheap Side, are very convenient
portable carminatives: as soon as they are dissolved, their
influence is felt from the beginning to the end of the ali-
mentary canal; they dissipate flatulence so immediately
that they well deserve the name of Vegetable Ether; and
are recommended to singers and public speakers, as giv-
ing effective excitement to the organs of voice; as a
support against the distressing effects of fasting too long,
and to give energy to the stomach between meals.
The power of the voice depends upon the vigorous
state of the circulation supplying the organs of voice, with
energy to execute the intentions of the singer or speaker;
without which, the most accurate ear and experienced
throat, will sometimes fail in producing the exact quality
and quantity of tone they intend.
That the voice is sometimes too fiat or too sharp, kc.
is not a matter of astonishment, to those who really under-
stand how arduous a task singers have sometimes to per-
form; it would only be wonderful if it was not: how is the
throat exempt from those collapses which occasionally
render imperfect the action of every other fibre and func-
tion of our body?
The dyspeptic, who tries the effect of recumbency after
eating, will soou be convinced that Tristram Shandy was
right enough when he said, that "both pain, and pleasure.,
are best supported in an horizontal posture."
THE SIESTA. 45
"If after dinner the poppies of repletion shed their in-
fluence on thy eyelids, indulge thou kind nature's hint."
"A quiet slumber in a comfortable warm room, favoureth
the operation of digestion, and thou shalt rise refreshed,
and ready for the amusements of the evening."
The semi-siesta is a pleasant position, (J. e. pitting up the
feet on a stool about eight inches high;) but catching a
nap in a chair is advisable only as a substitute when the
horizontal posture is not convenient; when you can, lie
down on a sofa, loosen all ligatures, and give your bowels
fair play.
These opinions, which are the results of personal ex-
perience, are exactly in unison with those of the follow-
ing medical professors.
-'From eating comes sleep, from sleep digestion." Sanc-
torious, Sec. iv. Aph. 59.
"Perhaps one of the uses of sleep, and of the horizon-
tal posture during that period, may be to facilitate the in-
troduction of chyle into the blood " — Crcickshank on the
Absorbents, p. 95.
"The brute creation invariably lie down and enjoy a
state of rest, the moment their stomachs are filled. Peo-
ple who are feeble, digest their dinner best, if they lie
down and sleep as most animals do, when their stomachs
are full." — Darwik's Zoonomia, vol. iv. p. 137.
"Dr. Harwood, professor of anatomy at Cambridge,
took two pointers who were equally hungr}', and fed them
equally well; one he suffered to follow the promptings of
instinct, curied himself round till he was comfortable, and
went to sleep, as animals generally do after eating, the
other was kept for about two hours in constant exercise.
On his return home, the two dogs were killed. In the
stomach of the one who had been quiet and asleep, all the
food, was digested; in the stomach of the other, tiiat pro-
cess was hardly begun."
"Quiet of body and mind for two hours after dinner, is
certainly useful to the studious, the delicate and the in
valid." — Adair on Diet, p. 44.
"After dinner, rest for three hours." — Abf.knf.thy''s
Surgical Obs. 8vo. . 1817, p. &3.
"After dinner sit a while." — E.ngHsh Proverb.
• 'If you have a strong propensity to sleep after dinner
E
40 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
indulge it, the process of digestion goes on much belter
during sleep, and I have always found an irresistible pro-
pensity to it, whenever dyspeptic symptoms were consid-
erable. — Waller on Incubus, 1816, p. 109.
"Aged men, and weak bodies, a short sleep after din-
vier doth help to nourish." — Lord Bacon's Nat. Hist
Cent. I. 57.
CLO T II E S.
OF all the customs of clothing, the most extremely ab«
-«urd is the usual arrangement of bed clothes, which in or-
der as the chambermaid fancies to make the bed look pret-
ty in the day time, are left long at the head, that they
may cover the pillows; when they are turned down. You
have an intolerable load on your lungs, and that part of
the body which is most exposed during the day, is smoth-
ered at night, with double the quantity of clothes that any
other part has.
Sleep is prevented by an unpleasant degree of either
heat or cold; and in this ever-varying climate, where of-
ten "in one monstrous day all seasons mix, 11 delicate ther-
mometries! persons will derive much comfort from keep-
ing a counterpane in reserve for an additional covering in
very cold weatlier: when some extra clothing is as needful
by night, as a greatcoat is by clay.
A gentleman who has a mind to carry the adjustment of
his clothes to a nicety, may have the shelves xf his ward-
robe numbered 30, 40, 50, 60, &c. and according to the
degree of ccld pointed to by his Fahrenheit,* he may wear
a corresponding defence against it: This mode of adjust
^Thermometers intended to give the temperature of ro
should be so placed as to be equally removed from the radient
beat of the fire, and from currents of air-from the door.
Out of door? they should bo in a northern situation, sheltered
I sunshine, or rejected heat, ic.
CLOTHES. i-
ing dress according to the vicissitudes of the weather, &c
is as rational as the ordinary practice of regulating it by
the almanack or the fashion, which in this uncertain cli-
mate and capricious age, will as often lead us wrong, as
right.
Leave off } r our winter clothes late in the spring; put-
them on early in the autumn. By wearing your winter
clothes during the first half dozen warm days, you>get
->ome fine perspirations, which are highly salutary in re-
moving obstructions on the cutaneous pores, &c.
Delicate and dyspeptic persons arc often distressed by
changing their dress, which must he as uniform as possible,
in thickness, in quality, and in form, especially (flannel,
or indeed) whatever is worn next to the skin.
The change of a thick waistcoat for a thin one, or a
long for a shorter one; not putting on winter garments
soon enough, or leaving them oil too soon, will often ex-
cite a violent disorder in the lungs, or bowels, &c. and ex-
asperate any constitutional complaint.
Those who wear flannel -waistcoats, are recommended
to have their new ones about the middle of November,
with sleeves to them coming down to the wrist; the short-
ening these sleeves in the warm weather, is as effective
an antidote against extreme heat, a? lengthening them,
and closing the cuff of the coat, is against intense cob!.
Our coat* should be made so large, that when buttoi
we may be as easy as when it is unbuttoned, so that with-
out any unpleasant increase of pressure on the chest, &c.
we can wear it closely buttoned up to the chin; the pow-
er of doing this is a convenient provision against the sud-
den alternations from heat to cold; buttoning up this out-
er garment, will protect the delicate from many mis-
chiefs which 60 often arise in this inconstant climate from
*The following observations on clothing, are copied, from the
life of John Stewart, the'traveiler, printed for Egerton, 1813, p. 9.
"I clothed myself at all times very warm, and by buttoning and
unbuttoriin.',', 1 could accommodate to the sudden change of cli-
mate and season, and preserve thereby the equilibre of the secre-
tions and excrements on which health and life depends; for cloth-
ing forms a factitious heat, as a substitute to the ntnucukr heat,
declining with age or sickness; on which action of heat vitality
and all the other functions of vital organism depend."
ifi the art ep lirfwdRATiNO TAin:.
the want of such a defence; and the additional warmth it
produce? will often cure slight colds, &.c.
Another way of accumulating caloric, is to have two
sets of button holes to the cuff of the coat, (especially of
your great coat,) one of which will bring it quite close
round the wrist.
When the circulation is languid, and your feet are cold,
wear worsted stockings, have your shoes well warmed,
and when you take them from the fire, put your slippers*
to it, that they may be warm and comfortable for you on
your return home.
In wet weather wear shoes with double upper-leathers,
two thin leathers will keep you much drier than one thick
one, and are more pliable; the courrier's dubbing is the
best nourisher of leather, and renders it as soft as satin,
and impervious to water.
The mean temperature of England is about 50 degrees
of Fahrenheit, it sometimes rises 25 degrees above this, in
the height of summer, falls about as much below, in the
depth of winter, and in summer frequently varies from
20 to 30 degrees between mid-day and mid-night.
The restoration, and the preservation of htalth, especially
of those who have passed their fortieth year, depends vpon
minute and unremitting attentions to food, clothes, exer-
kc. which taken singly may appear trifling, but com-
bined are of infinite importance.
11 If you are careful of it, glass will last as long as iron?''
By a regular observance of a few salutary precepts, a del-
icate constitution will last as long, and afford its proprie-
tor as many amusements, as a strong body, whose mind
takes but little care of it.
Invalids are advised to put on a great coat when they
go out, and the temperature of the external air is not high-
er than 40. Some susceptible constitutions require this
additional clothing when the thermometer falls below 50;
especially at the commencement of cold weather.
A great coat must be kept in a room where there is
a fire: if it has been hung up in a cold damp hall, as it
often is, it will contribute about as much to your calorifi-
cation, as if you wrapped a wet blanket about you.
*The best slippers area pair of old shoes ; the worst, those of plai-
ted clot] . which in. ke th< feet tender, and arc hotter covering fox
m in the house, than you give them when you go out.
CLOTHES. 40
Clothes should be warm enough to defend us from cold,*
and large! enough to let every movement be made with
as much ease when the}' are on, as when they are off.
Those whose employments are sedentary, especially
hard students, who often neglect taking suhcient exercise,!
suffer extremely from the pressure of tight waistbands,
garters, k.c. which are the cause of many of the mischief*
that arise from long sitting, during which they should be
loosened.
Braces have been generally considered a great im-
provement on modern dress, because they render the pres-
sure of the waistband unnecessar}\ which when extreme-
ly close is certainly prejudicial; but we have always
thought they have produced more inconvenience than
they have removed, for if the inferior viscera get there-
by more freedom of action, the superior suffer for it, and,
moreover, ruptures are much more frequent; the girdle
which formerly prevented them being removed, and, in-
*"Only fools and beggars suffer from cold, the latter not Deni-
able to procure sufficient clothes, the former not having the sense
to wear them. — Boerha_4ve.
i Narrow sleeves are a very great check on the muscular exer-
cise of the arms; the waistcoat, in its present fashionable form,
may be very properly termed a strait one. The waistcoat should
he long enough to cover the breeches two or three inches all round.
The wrists and knees, but more especially the latter, are braced
with ligatures, or tight buttoning; and the legs, which require the
utmost freedom of motion, are secured into leathern cases or boots,
though the wearer perhaps is never mounted on horse-back.
To complete tlie whole, as the head is confined by a tight hat,
but rarely suited to its natural shape, so in regard to shoes, the shape"
of the foot and the easy expansion of the toes arc never consult-
ed; but the shape regulated by the fashion of the flay, however
tight and uncomfortable.-' — Sinclair's Code of Health^kth Edi-
tion, p. 357.
^"Those who do not take a sufficient quantity of exercise,
soon suffer from a number of disorders, want of appetite, want of
sleep, flatulence, &zc. kc. obstruction, relaxation of the bowels,
and all the diversified symptoms of nervous complaints. Men of
letters suffer much, and from neglecting to take exercise, are of-
ten the most unhealthy of human beings ; even that temperance by
which many of them are distinguished, is no effectual remedy a-
gainst the mischiefs of a sedentary life, which can only be coun-
'•acted by a proper quantity of exercise and air."
E2
<*• lil, ART CF IN*VtGORATII*k> LIPl
stead of that useful and partial horizontal pressure, in spit<
« : t e clastic springs which have been attached to the bra-
ces, the whole body is grievously oppressed by the verti-
<.lc bands.
The best material for breeches, is the elastic worsted
stocking stuff.
Tight stays and braces, obstruct the circulation of the
blood, &e. are the cause of many chronic complaints, and
often create organic diseases.*
FIRE
AS we advance in age, the force of the circulation be-
ing lessened, the warmth of our clothes and our coverings
at night should be gradually increased. "After the age
of 35. it may be better to exceed, rather than be deficient
in clothing." — Adaik's Cautions, p. 390.
Cold often kills the infirm and the aged, and is the prox-
imate cause of most palsies; it is extremely desirable
that bed and sitting rooms for winter occupations, should
have a southern aspect; when the thermometer is below
30, the proper place for people beyond 60, is their own
fire-side: many of the disorders and deaths of persons at
this period of life, originate from irregularity in diet,
perature, &c. by dining cut, and frisking about, join-
ing in Christmas gambols, &.c. in cold weather.
The art of making a room comfortably warm, does not
consist merely in making a very large fire in it; but de-
*Stays and stiff jackets are most pernicious; they disfigure the
beautiful and upright shape of a woman, and injure the breast and
bowels; obstruct the breathing- and digestion; hurt the breast and
nipples so much that many mothers have been prevented by their
use from suckling their children; many hence get cancers and at
fast lose both health and life ; for they render the delivery of wo-
men very difficult and dangerous both to mother and child.'" —
From Dr. Faust"s Ctttechitm of Health, )2mo. p. 39, Edinburgh,
pends as much on the keeping of cold air out, this is best
done by double windows, (see pages 40 and 41,) and dou-
ble doors: at least take care that your sashes fit close, that
the beads of the window frames are tight, stop the aper-
ture between the skirting boards and the floor with putty,
and list the doors.
We suppose it almost needless to say that every room
in the house should be thoroughly ventilated* by a cur-
rent of fresh air, at least once every day, when the w.eath-
er is not very damp, or cold. By making a lire accord
ingly, this may be done almost every day in the year.
If you leave the door open for five minutes, it will let
in more cold air than your fire can make warm in fifteen-
therefore, initiate your domestics in these first principles
of the economy of caloric, and when the weather is cold,
caution them to keep doors shut.
A regular temperature may be preserved by a simple
contrivance attached to a thermometer, which will open
an aperture to admit the external air, when the apart-
ment is heated above the degree desired, (i. e. about 60
for common constitutions,) and exclude it when it falls be-
low it.
A room which is in constant occupation all day, may be
occasionally pumped by moving the door backward and
forward for several minutes.
We do not advise invalids to indulge thcmselve, in heat-
ing their rooms to a higher temperature! than from 60 to
65. Those who have resided the best part of their life in
warm climates, will like the latter best. While we re-
commend the aged and infirm to be kept comfortably
warm, they must at the same time cautiously avoid excess
cf heat.
* u Stagnant air becomes corrupted in the same manner as stag-
nant wafer ; opening w indows and making currents of air, arc the
best means of purifying it." — Struve's Astkenology, p. 348.
t"The natural heat of the human body is 08 of Fahrenheit's
thermometer; any temperature applied to it lower than 98, gives
a =( nsation of cold, but if the temperature applied is not below 62,
the sensation of cold will not continue long, but be soon changed
to a sensation of heat, and in this climate, air, Sec. applied i
living man, does not diminish the temperature of his bodv, unless
the temperature of it be below 62; if it is abore that it increase
it." — Cvllen's First Lines, vol. i. p. 130.
52 THE ART OP INVIGORATING LIFE
When the thermometer, tells them that the exter-
nal air is under 60, whether it be in July, or in January,
tho?e who are susceptible of eold, must tell their sen ants
to keep a small fire, especially if the weather be at the
same time clamp.
Those who, from caprice, 1 or parsimony, instead of o-
beying this comfortable and salutary precept, sit shiver-
ing and murmuring, and refuse to employ the coal-mer-
chant, as a substitute for the sun, may soon spend in phys-
ic more than the\ r have saved in fuel.
By raising the temperature of my room to about 65,
taking a full dose of Epsom Salts, and broth diet, and re-
tiring to rest an hour sooner than usual, I have often very
speedily got rid of colds, &c.
The following plan of lighting and managing afire, has
been attended with great comfort and convenience to my
self, (particularly at the beginning and the end of the
winter, when a very small fire is sufficient,) and I think
considerable saving of coals.
Fill your grate with fresh coals quite up to the upper
bar but one, then lay in your faggot of wood in the usual
manner, rather collected in a mass, than scattered, that a
body of concentrated heat may be produced as soon as
possible; over the faggot place the cinders of the prece-
ding day, piled up as high as the grate will admit, and
placed loosely in rather large fragments, in order that the
draft may be free; a bit or two of fresh coal may be ad-
ded to the cinders when once they are lighted, but no
small coal must be thrown on at first, for the reason above
stated: when all is prepared, light the wood, when the
cinders become in a short time thoroughly ignited, the gas
rising from the coals below, which will now be effected
by the heat, will take fire as it passes through them, leav-
ing a very small portion of smoke to go up the chimney.
The advantage of this mode of lighting a fire is, that
small coal is better suited to the purpose than large, ex-
cept a few pieces in front to keep the small from falling
out of the grate, it may be kept in reserve, to be put on
afterwards if wanted. 1 have frequently known my fire
lighted at 8 o'clock in the morning, continue burning till
1 1 at "ight without any thing being done to it: when appa-
rently quite out, on being stirred, you have in a few min-
a ik. 63
uies a glowing fire : it will sometimes be necessary to loos-
en, or stir slightly the upper part of the tire if it begins
to cake, but the lower part must not be touched, other
wise it will burn away too soon.
AIR.
MANY invalids are hurried into their graves, by the
indiscreet kindness of their friends forcing them from the
comforts of home, for the sake of air more abounding
with oxygen, i. c. the vivifying part of the atmosphere-,
that great benefit is received from what is called change
of air is"true enough, it is seldom considered that there is
also a change in most of the other circumstances of the
patient; many, of infinitely more importance, than that
which derives all the credit of the cure.
For instance, if a person living in a confined part of the
city, neglecting exercise, harrassed all day by the anxie-
ties of business, and sitting up late at night, kc. be remo- «
ved to the tranquillity of rural scenes, which invite him
to be almost constantly taking exercise in the open air,
and retiring to rest at an early hour; and, thus, instead of
being surrounded by irritations unfavourable to health.,
enjoying all the '-jucunda obliva vitoz''' which are favour-
able to it; such a change will often do wonders, and suiii-
cientry account for the miraculous cures attributed to
change of air.
Chemical philosophers assert indeed, that a garlon of
the unsavory gas from garlick hi!;, !>ives as high a pro
portion of oxygen, as the like quantity of the ethereal ele-
ment of primrose hill: this seems incredible, and must a
rise either from the imperfection of the Eudiometer giv-
ing erroneous results, or from the air being impregnated
with matter unfriendly to health, which the instruments
employed to analize it, have not tie power of denoting-.
let any one tread the. mazes of a crowded city, and wall
54 tRE ABT OK INVIGORATING I 111
for the same space of time in a pleasant country, the ani-
mal spirits will soon testify, Avhich is the most exhilara-
ting.
However, people certainly do live long, and enjoy
health, in situations apparently very unfavourahle to an-
imal life.
Our omniscient Creator has given to our lungs, the same
faculty of extracting nutriment from various kinds of air,
as the stomach has from various kinds of aliment: the
poor man who feeds on the coarsest food, is supported hy
it in as sound health, as the rich man who fares sumptu-
ously every day.
Well then, in nine cases out of ten to change the atmos-
phere we have hcen long accustomed to, is as (inadvisable
as a change in the food we ha\ e been used to, unless other
circumstances make it so, than the mere change of place.
The opulent invalid who has heen long indulged with
a home arranged to his humour, must beware (especially
during any exacerbation of his infirmity) of leaving it;
it would be almost as desperate a procedure as to eject an
ivster from his shells.
EXERCISE.
^-By ceaseless action all that is subsists,
Constant rotation of the unwearied wheel
That nature rides upon, maintains her health,
Her beauty, her fertility. She dreads an instant's pause,
And lives but while she moves." — Cowper's Task,
"The wise, for health on exercise depend ;
God never made his work for man to mend."
THE more luxuriously you live, the more exercise* you
require, the "Bon Vivanf* may depend upon the truth of
*"The cordials, volatiles, bracers, strengtheners, Sec. given by
'.amnion practitioners, may keep up an increased circulation for a
few hours, but their action soon subsides.
Tlie circulation of the blood can onh/ be properly carried on through
■ he medium, of exercise or labour. — See page 18.
^rt cannot come up to nature in this most salutary of all her op-
EXERCISE. Co
the advice which Sir Charles Scarborough gave to the
Dutches of Portsmouth, ' ; Tou must eat less, or take more
exercise,! or take physic, or be sick."
Exercise is the grand power to promote the circulation
through the capillary vessels, by Avhich the constitution is
preserved from obstructions, appetite increased, and diges-
tion improved in all its stages; the due distribution of
nourishment, invigorates the nervous system, gives firm-
ness and elasticity to the muscles, and strength to every
part of the system.
Exercise, to have its full effect must be continued till
we feel a sensible degree of perspiration, (which is the pan-
aced for the prevention of corpulence.) see page 23; and
<hould. ;it least once a-day proceed to the borders of fa
<igue. but never pass thctu. or we shall be weakened in
stead of strengthened.
Health depends upon perpetual secretion and absorp-
tion, and exercise only can produce this.
erations. That sprightly vigpsr, and alacrity of health, which
•we enjoy in an active cour<'' of life; th;'! zest in appetite, and
r e a ting, which sated luxury Seeks in vain from
art, is owing wholly to new blood made every day from fresh food,
prepared avid distributed by the joint action of all the parts of the
body. — Cadogan on Gout ,
t w There is no rule more essential to those who arc advanced in
life, than never to give way to a remission of exercise. By de-
grees the demand for exercise may shrink, in extreme old age, to
little more than a. bare qqjt-r< ;ii ; trat thai quit-rent must be paid
hie is held by the tenure.
"Whoever examines the accounts .handed down to us of the
longest livers, will generally find, tint to the very last they need
5 walking a certain distance every day, Sec. This
is mentioned as something surprising in (hem, considering their
great reas the truth is, that their living to such an age
without some such exercise, would have been the wonder. Exer-
cise keep- off obstructions, which are the principal sources of dis-
c -i-< is, and ultimately of death. Motion then is the tenure of life ;
and old people v. ho humour or indulge an inclination to sloth and
inactivity, (which is too apt to grow upon them on the least en-
couragement,) act as unwisely as the poor traveller, who bewilder-
ed in trackless snow, and surprised by a chilling frost, instead ol
resisting the temptation to sleep, suffers it to steal upon him.,
though he know-, that, by its fatal blandishments, be can ni er
. to wake again, but must inevitably perish."— Institutes of
Health, p. 24.
56 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
4fter exercise, lake care to get cool gradually; when
your head perspires, rub it, and your face, &c. dry with
a cloth: this is better for the hair than the best "bear's
grease," and will beautify the complexion beyond "La Cos-
metique Royale" or all the red and white Olympian dew
that was ever imported.
One of the most important precepts for the preserva
tion of health, is to take care of the skin*
In \ inter, the surface of the body, the feet, &c. should
be washed twice or thrice a week, with water of the tem-
perature of about 98, and wiped every day with a wet
towel; a tepid bath of the like temperature once a fort-
night will also conduce much to both health and comfort.
Some advise that the surface of the body be wiped every
morning with a wet sponge, and rubbed dry after, witli
not too line a cloth.
WINE.
"Le Vin est 1%B des produits de la nature ks plus diffii
a juger et a bienchoisir: ct les plus habilcs gourmets sont sou-
vent mis en dufaut." — Manuel du Sommelier, Paris, 1817, p. I.
WINE, especially Port, is generally twice spoiled be
fore it is considered fit to be drank !'.!
The wine maker spoils it first, by over-loading it with
brandy to make it keep.
The wine-drinker keeps it till time has not only dissipa-
ted the superabundant spirit, but even until the acetous fer-
*"The most ignorant person knows, that proper care of the skin
is indispensably necessary for the well-being of horses, &c.
"The groom often denies himself rest, that he ma^y dress and
curry his horses sufficiently ; it is, therefore, wonderful that the en-
lightened people of these days should neglect the care of their
own skin so much, that 1 think I may, without exaggeration, as-
sert, that among the greater part of men, the pores of the skin are
half closed and unfit for use,'''' — From page 235 of IIufflam) 1 :;.
Art of prolonging Life, — which persons of all ages may persue,
with much advantage.
mentation begins to be evident; this, it is the taste now to
eail "-Flavj ;</•," and wine is not liked, till it has lost so
much of its exhilarating power, that you may drink half
a pint of it, before receiving that degree of excitement,
which the wine-drinker requires to make him happy.
We mean a legal pint containing 16 ounces.
The measure of a dottle of wine ought to be as de-
finitive, as that of a tot of porter: is it not astonishing
that the legislature have not ordered a sta>ulard and
stcynped quart, for the wine-merchant, as they have a pot
for the publican ?
This would be equally as desirable to the respectable
wine-merchant, as to the public.
It would protect the former against the injurious compe-
tition of those who at present, by vending wine in bot-
tles of inferior dimension, impose on the unweary purchas-
er under pretence of selling at a lower than the market
price.
The purchaser of a dozen bottles of wine expects to
receive three gallons of wine.
Proportion of the -seine gallon, according to the last L<,.
Pharmacopoeia:
Gallon. Tints. Fluid Ounces. Drachms. Minims or Drops,
1 8 128 1024 61,440
■ inces in a legal wine quart.
iltiplj by 12 quarts in thru gallons.
384 ounces in ditto.
Mea-ure the number of ounces your bottle holds, divide 384 bj
it and the quotient will give you the number of such bottles re-
quired to contain three gallons of wine.
Some boftit s do not contain more than 26 ounc
26;384(14 bottles, 1 pint and a quarter.
26
124 '
104
20
Or,
Multiply ,. c. the number of ounces
By 12 your bottle- nil contain.
312 the number of ounces contained
in youf s, uhich
Ought to hold 384 the number of ounces'iu
fract 312 three gallons.
F
TTir. AB r OK INVIGOBA1
Divide by the number) . : .-.,! half a |
of ounces in a quart ) G4
8 ounces-
SOj instead o[ thiif.e gallons, you have only two gal-
. one quart, and a pint and a half.
The quantity ofbottle will contain, may easily be accurate-
ly ascertained, by Lyne's graduated glass measure, which
Is half a pint, and dh ided into ounces, &c~ it is <
?ent vessel to mix grog in.
A pipe of Port contains, on-the- average; 138 gall
liich three innsj. he allowed for lees. &c. This i*
enough for wa'ste, if the wine has been pr6perly ■■
and steadily bottled.
A Butt of Sherry contains 130 gallons.
Madeira, 110
bead? of Ckaket, 55
It is convenient fu. . ive part" of t]
v, ine in pint bo\ *
That wine is much beet when quite fresh opened, is
- it is needless" to observe; bail':! pin! < f w i
v's, i. c. 4 orditi - as most
people (who have not spoiled their stomachs by inteniper-
) require.
The rage for sUperannus ted wine, is one. c"f the most
ridiculous vulgar errors of modeh m, "the bee's
h ing " "thick crust* on I f strength, I
which wine-fanciers consider the beauty of their '
lavorite. '-line old Por< ;' tanifestatifl
decomposition, and the departu
qualities of th« n ine.
The agef o"f maturity for on frbm (
*A thick crust '■- i ot alv aj s the co -■ qui nee of thi w ine ha i
■' : ■ bill |
I
t"Had the man that Grs< i , p] a .
■ •■ :
tld-have found it i
at 100 or 150, had lie i
itot:
, and b< ep it iusto per-
i
WINE. b:>
to be the second year after the vn> bably
sometimes not quite so long.)
Our wine-merchants keep it in wood from" two to six:
years longer, according to its original strength, ^cc. surt ! v
•this must be long enough to do all that ran be done by
keeping it; what crude wine it must be to require even
this time to ameliorate it; the necessity tor which, must
arise either from some error in the original manufacture,
or a false taste, which does not relish it, till time has chan
ged its original characteristics;
Ordinary Port \< a very uncleansed, fretful wine, and ex-
perienced judges have asswred us, that the b~esipori is rath
or impoverished than improved, by being kept in bottle
longer than two* years. ?. e. supposing it to have been
previously from two to four years in the cask in this coun-
try, observing, that all that the outrageous advocates for
"vin passe," 1 " 1 really know about it, is, that Sherry is yellow,
and Port is Hack, and that if they drink enough of either
of them, it will make them drunk.
White Wine, especially Sherry and Madeira., being
more perfectly fermented, and thoroughly fined before
they arc bottled, if kept in a cellar of uniform tempera-
ture, are not so rapidly deteriorated by age.
The temperature of a good cellar is nearly the same
throughout the year. Double doors help to preserve this.
It must be dry, and be kept clean as possible.
The art of preserving wines, is to keep them from fret-
ting, which is done by keeping them in the same degree
of heat, and careful corking. f ^It' persons wish to pre
bordering on acid, is wholesome, though some wine-drinker
to preterit in that state. •-. og Port Wine, there is a great
fuss made by some about its age and the crust on the bottle ; as il
_e and crust on the bottle constituted the quality of the wine.*'
ntlemen shall not select nine for me." — Yocmg's
Epicure, 3vo.'l8l5, p. 23, 28, <fec.
•'•Wines bottled in good order, may be fit to drink in six
months, (especially if bottled in October,) but they are ma in per-
fection before twelve. From that to two years thej may continue
so: but it would be improper to keep them longer." — Edinl
lop. Britan. vol. xviii. j>. 7-2, Article H
+"Coi'k the bottles very closely with good cork, and lay them
at the cork may not dry and facilitate the a
• ART OF 1
serve the line flavour of their wines, they ought on n
court.tiQ permit any bacon, cheese, onions, y- itoes or ri-
der, in their wine-cellars. Or, if there be any disaj
able stench in the cellar, the wine will indubitably imbibe
it; consequently instead of being' (Vagrant and Charming
to the nose and palate, it will be extremely djsagn eable,"
C-arnell on Wine making, 8vo. 1814, p. 124. Sec also
Manuel du Sommelicr. -par A. Jul lien, Paris, 1817.
That Madeira (if property matured before) improves
in quality by being carried to the East Indies and back, by
which voyage it loses from 8 to 10 gallons, or to the West,
by which about 5 are wasted,* however these round a-
bout manoeuvres may tickle the fancy of those folks who
cannot relish any thing that is not far-fetched, dear bbugbt,
and hard to be bad, and to whom rarity is the "sine qua
now'' of recommendation, it is one of those inconvenient
prejudices, from which common sense preserve us!
The vulgar objection to pew nine, (by which we mean
wine that has heen maturing in wood two years in Portu-
gal, two in England, and in bottle more than twelve
months,) is, that its exhilarating qualities are too abun-
dant, and intoxicate in too small a dose, those "Bon Vi-
vahts" to whom "the bottle, the sun of the table," 1 and
who are not in the habit of crying to go home to bed while
they can see it shining, require wines weaker than those
which are usually imported from Spain and Portugal;
however Port and Sherry may be easily reduced to the
standard desired by the long sitter, "paulu/um actti ace-
fosi," will give the acid gout, "equa pura n will subdue
their spirit "ad libitum" and produce an imitation of the
of the air. For the 'greater safety, the cork may bo covered with
a coating of cerement applied by means of a brush, or the neck of
the bottle may be immersed in a imixture of melted wax, rosin, or
pitch." — Accum o/i making Wine, 1820, p. 40.
*-A puncheon of brandy containing 130 gallons, after re.
maining in cask in a merchant's cellar for three years, lost two
gallons in measure, and ten gallons in strength. The stronger the
spirit, the sooner it evaporates.
The London Dock Company are not answerable for any de-
of quantity in a pipe of wine left under their care, pro-
vided it does not exceed one gallon far each year, whioh it is sup-
posed to waste in that time.
WINE. 61
flavour acquired by age, extempore, and you cast thus very
easily make fine fruity nutritious new wine, as light, and
as old,* and as poor, as you please, and fit it exactly
to your customer's palate, whether "Massa drinky for
drinky, or drinky for drunky Massa."
To ameliorate very new, or very old wine — mix a bottle
of the one with a bottle of the other, or to a bottle of ve-
ry old Port add a glass or two of good new Claret, to ver}'
new, a glass of Sherry.
Of all our senses, the taste, especially for liquids, is the
most sophisticated slave of habit, "IJe gustibus, non est
disputandum.'''
The astringent matter, and Alcohol, which render Port
Wine the prop of an Englishman's heart, are intolerable
to the palate of an Italian, or Frenchman. But a stom*
ach which has been accustomed to be wound up by the
double s/imulus of astringents, and alcohol also, will not
be content with the latter only, especially if that be in
less quantity, as it is in the Italian and French Wines;
which therefore, for the generality of Englishmen, are
insufficiently excitant.
He who has been in the habit of drinking porter at
dinner, and Port after, will feel uncomfortable with home-
brewed Ale and Claret.
Mr. Accum, the chemist, analized for the editor some
Port and Sherry of the finest quality; the Portj yielded
*Cornaro complains that old wine was very disagreeable to his"
itomach, and new wine very grateful ; his dose was fourteen oun-
ces, (t. e. seven wine glasses) per day.
tFermented liquors furnish very different proportions of alcohol,
and it has been sometimes supposed that it does not pre-exist t»
the^amount in which it is obtained by distillation ; but some exper-
iments I made upon the subject in 1811 and 1813, and which are
printed in the Phil. Trans, for these year.-, tend to show that it is
a real educt, and not formed by the action of heat upon the ele-
ments existing in the fermented liquor. The following table ex-
hibits the proportion of alcohol by measure existing in one hundred
pints of wine." — Brande's Manuel of Chemistry. 8vo. 1819, p
-100.
Hock 14
Claret 15
Sherry ------ --10
Port
Madeira - * 24 per cent Alcohol'."
F2
62 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
20 percent, and the Sherry 19*25 per cent, of Alcohol
of 825 specific gravity, i. e. the strongest spirit of wine
that can be drawn, full double the strength of Brandy,
which seldom has forty per cent, and common Gin* not
more than 30, or 25.
Some people have a notion that if they goto the docks,
they can purchase a pipe of wine for twenty pounds less,
than they must pay to a regular wine merchant; and,
moreover, have it neat as imported, as if all wines of the
same name were of the same quality.
Port varies at Oporto in quality and price as much as
Porter does in London. It is needless to say how difficult
it is to obtain the best beer at any price; it is quite as dif-
ficult to obtain the best Port wine at Oporto, where the
very superior nine is all bought up at a proportionately
high price by the agents for the London wine merchants.
Brandies and wines vary in quality quite tfs much as
they do in price: not less than twenty pounds per pipe in
the country where they are made.
The only way to obtain genuine wholesome liquor, is
to apply to a respectable wine merchant, and beg of him
to send you the best wine at the regular market price.
If you are particular about the quality of what you buy,
the less you ask about the price of it the better, if you
are not, bargain as hard as you please.
The editor buys his Wines of Messrs. Dan vers and
Clarke, No. 122, upper Thames street; his Brandy and
*"It would save many lives if gin, &c. was not allowed to be
sold until reduced to one third the strength of proof spirit. Peo-
ple do not at first drink from any liking or desire, but being cold,
or faint with hunger or fatigue, they find immediate comfort and
refreshment from the use of spirits; and as they can purchase a
dram with less money than they can cover their hack, or fill their
belly, so they gratify the strongest and least expensive appetite,
and insensibly become drunkards."
"Ardent spirits are not only eminently destructive to the bod}-,
but are the most powerful incentives to vice of every kind ; drunk-
enness engenders all other crimes. Does the robber pause in his
trade? Does the murderer hesitate? they arc presently wound
up at the gin shop. Has the seducer tried his arts in vain? The
brothel is more indebted to this source, than to all the other lures
ro seduction." — From Hint for the Preservation of Health." — Cal-
l ow, 1813. l2mo. p. 2.
WINE. 63
Liqueurs* of Mr. Johnson, in Pall Mall; and his Spirits,
&c- of Mr. Richards, Piccadilly:
"There are three sorls of drinkers: one drinks to satisfy nature,
and to support his bod)-, and requires it as necessary to his being.
"Another drinks a degree beyond this, and takes a larger dose to
exhilarate and cheer his mind, and help him to sleep ; these two
are lawful drinkers.
"A third drinks neither for the good of the body or the mind,
but to stupify and drown both." — Maykw.ar.inge on Health, &c.
12mo. 1683, p. 123.
*JoSnson's White Curacoa takes precedence of all the Li-
queurs we have ever tasted.
A moral and physical Thermometer; or, a scale of the pro-
gress of temperance and intemperance, by -J. C. Lettsom,
M. D. Liquors with their effects,in their usual order.
TEMPERANCE.
r Health, Wealth.
| Serenity of Mind.
, ^ Reputation, longJici,
and
Happiness.
Cherfulness.
70
60 —
.
~>o —
40—
30—
,'0 —
10
0—
:0—
20 —
80—
id—
50—
60
T0_
WATER.
Milk and Water.
Small Beer.
Cider and Perry.
Wine.
Porter.
Strong Beer
r
Punc!».
toddy & crank
!Grog, and
brandy &
water.
Flip 8c shrub.
f Bitters infu
J sed in spirits
1 Hysteric
L water.
{Gin, bran-
dy, rum, &
whiskey in
the morning
I Do. during
< the day and
' nieht.
J L
r Strength, and
Nourishment, when ta-
ken only at meals, and
in moderate quantities.
INTEMPERANCE.
'Vices, "j f Diseases. "|
Idlenes
peevish
ness.
quarrel
ling.
Fight-
ing.
Lying.
Swear-
ing,
obscen-
Swind-
ling,
perjury
Burgla-
ry-
Mur-
der.
k Suicide j
Sickness.
Puking and
Tremors of
the hands in
the morning
Bloatedness
Inflamed
eyes. Red
nose & face
sore & swel-
led legs.
Jaundice.
Pains in the
limbs & bur-
ning in the
palms ofthe
hands.
Dropsy,
melancholy
Madness.
Palsy.
Apoplexy
DEATH.
fPUNISH-
ME>'TS.
Debt.
Black
eyes.
Rags.
Hunger.
Hospital.
Poor-
house.
Jail.
Whip-
ping.
The
hulks.
Botany
Bay.
fallow
wine. 65
9$e who drink wine* fyc. for the purpost it was given,
as a cordial to cheer the circulation, when it filters" from
fatigue, age, or profuse evacuations of any kind, "for the
stomach's sake." as St. Paul recommends it, and for our
"often infirmities" as a medicine, will understand, that of
all the ways of saving, to run any risk of buying inferior
wine, is the most ridiculous unwise economy.
To ice wine is another very unprofitable and inconven-
ient custom, and not only deteriorates its flavour, hut by
rendering it dull in the mouth, pe&ple are induced to drink
too much, as they are deprived of the advantage of know-
ing when they have got e:iough, for as soon as the wine
becomes warm in their stomachs, the t!o<e they have tak-
en merely to exhilarate them, makes them drunk.
The true economy of drinking, is to excite as much ex-
hilaration as may be. with as little wine.
We deprecate the custom of sitting for Iiours after din-
ner, and keeping the stomach in an incessant state of irrita-
tion by sipping wine, nothing can be more prejudicial to
digestion,\ it is much better to mix food "and drink, and to
take them by alternate mouthfuls, — See page 5.
Our '-ViNcM Britt.wnicu.m," good home brewed beer,
which has been very deservedly called "Liquid Bread,"
is preferable to any other beverage during- dinner or sup-
per, or PoW or Sherry diluted with about three or four
times their quantity of toast and water, (No. IG-i:) undi-
luted, these wines are to strong too be drank during din-
^"The blood of the grape appcarcth to be blood, in it is life, it i<:
from the cine, rind that the plantoflife; and that the difference be-
tween this plant, and the 7'. . were hut /
. is not so improbable as to be rejected by am , for they
will be both granted plants of life, and they ven much respond in
their nature as well as appellation. What the fruit was that
;■ from that in Paradise, is not as yet known, or nut -> per-
fectly understood as that of the vine, the nature of ^which i- so
lively as that Galen v\ id affirm it to augment radical h< at, which
is the way to Jive forever." — See Dr. Whitakek on, the Blood of
the Grape, lUmo. 1654, p. Sand 31.
+lnonr Pfptic Precepts, we have pointed out the most *CQB
ient ways of cou the dilapidating effects of excessivi
ii ia doubly debilitating, when ypu
the fascination- of the fe >trve bowl to seduce j ou to sacrifice to Ba<*-<
thus, thfic hours', which are duo to the drj.vy Go'd of fl
•
66 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LI
nor, they act so powerfully on the feelings of the stomach,
that they dull the desire for solid fopd, by prottucing th<
'.tion of restoration, and the system, instead of receiv-
ing materials to repair and strengthen it, is merely stimu-
lated dining the action of the vinous spirit.
However, the dull stimulus of distension, is insufficient
for some delicate stomachs, which do absolutely require
to be screwed up with a certain quantity of diffusible stim-
ulus, 1 * without which, they cannot proceed effectively to
the business of digestion, or indeed any other business ; u e
do not recommend such, especially i ftlioy ha i e passed the
meridian oflife, to attempt to entirely wean themselves ofit,
but advise them iiwrnsdidtefy after dinner, to drink as much
nil i sary to excite that degree of action in their
system, without which they are uncomfortable, and then
to stop. — See 'observations on Siesta.
Now-a-davs. babies are brought to table after dinner by
children of larger growth', to drink wine, which has as
bad an effect on their tender susceptible stomachs, as the
like quantity of u.couoi. would produce upon an adult.
Wine has been called "the milk of old age," so '-milk
is the wine of youth." As Dr. Johnson observed, it is much
■ r to be abstinent than to be temperate, and no man
should habitual! v take wine as food till he is past 30 years
of age* at least ; happy is he who preserves this best of
cordials in reserve, and only takes it to support his mind
heart when. distressed by anxiety and fatigue. That
which may be a needful stimulus at 10 or 50, will inflame
the passions into madness at 20 or 30, and at an earlier
period is obsolute poi
'■■'' arj to support the usual vigour of
the gr people even in health j ribthing therefore can
i in wholl tn deprive them of this support
when thev arc weakened b . di ease; dyspeptics who havefoeen
I in its use, cannot he deprived of it; a very moderate
use of hardij be said 1 to be injurious: we see those who
a ■(.■ it in On- way, live as long, and enjoy as good health, as those
who wholly abstain from it." — Dr. Philip on Indigestion, 8vo.
1821, .). 139 and 144.
t"Xo mati in health can need wine till he arrives at forty ; he
th< n may begin with two glasses in the day, at fifty he may add
Trotter on Drunkenness, 1804, p. 15?.
Among ether innumerable advantages which the water'
{tinker enjoys^ remember he saves at least fifty c\ i
per annum, which the. beer and wine drinker waste
: to the detriment of las health, as the diminution
of bis finances: moreover, nothing deteriorates the sense
of taste so soon as strong- liquors; the aiater-drinJter enjoys
an exquisite sensibility of palate, and relish for plain ibod,
that a wine-drinker has no idea of.
Some people make it a rule to drink a co> ; er of
glasses of wine during and alter dinner, whether they are
!. crnd: this is as ridiculous as" it would be
it a certain number- of mutton chops whether you arc
.vy or not. The ef Join
the" same, even in the same | - n the
state of the animal
ach be full or empty. Sac.
The more simply life is supported, and the le
lus we use the better, ai are the young and heal-
ise enough .1', -inced that v. a
drink, and salt the I
; in invalii
the heart was too tired to carry on the circu
can j e to the ufch a
portion of wine as will remove I
the main life to \ ibfate v our.
r i i ■
( AC
and threerfourths of a pint
\ ■
bout sum:. •'. t. 75 o; I
I of the v
ej . >'..' . into the i pint,
igth of the liiji, : - • con-
clusi( mer, after ft
esof Port or Sherry as instind
e circulation requires; if it
63 THE ART OF INVIGORATING L1FI
qvcur glass of Johnson's* Witte Curacoa] is occasionally
recommended as a renovating Bound Bouche; about a quar-
ter of an hour after dinner, he lies down on a sola, and
sleeps for about half an hour; this has been his custom
for the last twenty years; half an hour\s horizontal poslure
is more restorative to him, than if he had sat up and drank
three or four more glasses of wine.
As to the wJiolesomeness of various zvines,\ that depends
*Brandy and Liqueur merchant, No. 2, Colonnade, Pall Mall.
I To make a quart of Gu.ra.coa. — To a .pint of jthe cleanest
and strongest rectijied-spirit, (sold by Richards, Piccadilly) add -
drachms and a half of the sweet oil of orcaiic( ],ctl, (sold b\ Stew:
art, Nq» 11 Old Broad street, near the bank,) shake it up, dissolve
a. pound of good lunip'sugai'in a pifttoff cold water, make this in-
to a clarified sj nip, (No. 47."-,) which add to the spirit, shake it up,
and let it stand tiil the following day, then hue a tunnel with a
of iiui-lin. and that v. paper, and iill< r it two oi
three times'till it is quite bright; or dissolve'a drachm and a half
of carbonate of potfl - in arbout a quarter . int of the liqueur by
rubbirrg it Cog( tber in a mortar, addii j It to the liqueur, and
ins it-well up ; then ineorporati i iiy of pounded' alum
in auoth< r quarter pint of the liqfli ur; and return it to the liqueur,
shake it well up; and in a liitle lime it will become fine. 1 I
queurlis, an admirable cordial, and a tea-spoonful in a tumbler of
w ■" r is a very refreshing summer drink, andagreat improvement
to PUNCH.
..-,. \\ c do not offer this receipt as a rivs 1 to Mr. John
Curacoa ; it is only proposed as an bumble substitute for that in-
comparable liqueur.
p~U y a pour le Gourmet phi? do soisrante sortes de vihs; il ivy
rn a cue trois pourie ( nimiste ; 9avoir, less-Vins mi viiis
fail ,les «jns sucres. he suero exisie tout forme paY la nature
dans jes raisins murs de tons les pays ; sa proportion fait la j rinci-
palo difference des rins; e'est lecre seul qui etabiit la fermentation
vine use; si Ton enferme levin ayant qn'elle soil t< r£in<
qui etait surle point de s'echappe?, rest* dan- la liqueuT,et le vin
est mousseux. Ce gaz eat de Vacidc caiboniqm , le merae air qui fait
mousserlecidrc, la biere, rhydromel,et-leseaus mineral
de Chatteldon. II estdangereux a respiper en quantiti , puisqu'il
xie les animaux ; mais il est tres-^alubre "a bqire ainsi com-
bine- Si, an contraire, la fermentation est termini e, le
change dans le tool, eatt de vie, qui tient en dissolution le tartr , It
prnici ; ,c colorant, e* le precipe extractif dn raisin. Voila, C
itute :• vim faitsj Us nc moussent plus, et ils sont-plu
un suivant.Ies proportions de leurs prim i >es.
•■'Entin, quand le sucre nature! au raisin est trop abendattj i
WINE. 69
on the integrity and skill of the wine-maker, and upon the
peculiar state of the stomach of the wine-drinker; when
my stomach is not in good temper, it generally desires to
have red wine, but when in hest health, nothing affronts it
more than to put Port into it, and one of the first symtoms
of its coming into adjustment, is a wish fovwhile wine.
One of the chief causes of that derangement of the
stomach, which delicate and aged persons so constantly
complain of after dining out, is the drinking of wines, kc.
which they are unused to.
White, deserves to be preferred to red wines, because the
latter being harder pressed, and subjected to a stronger
fermentation to extract the colouring matter from the
husks of the grape, are more loaded with feculence.
Of red wines. Claret is the hest; and it is to be lamen-
ted, that the duty imposed upon it is so great, that to mod-
erate fortunes it amounts to a prohibition; when we make
this observation, we do not mean to impeach the prudence
which has induced those who no doubt best understand the
subject, to determine that political necessity imperatively
decrees that the delightful and salubrious wines of France,
must be taxed twice as high as the coarse unwholesome
wines of Portugal.
Of the white wines, w e believe that Sherry is the most
easy, and Madeira the most difficult to obtain genuine,
most of the sweet wines are as artificially compounded,
as the beers of this country ; the addition of Capillaire to
Port wine, makes what is commonly called Tent. Moun-
tain, Calcavella, &c, are made up in the same manner
For further illustrations of this subject, see Accum on
adulteration, 2d edition, l c 2mo. 1820.
An inquiry into the effects of fermented liquors, by a wa-
ter-drinker, 2d Edit. 1818.
Sandfoed's remarks on wine. Worcester, 1799.
Lettsom, on the effects of hard drinking.
Trotter, on drunkennes. 1804.
Accum's art of making English wine, 1820.
Carnell on family wine making, 1814.
fermenter on totalite, une portion re e dans la liqueur sous forme
de Sirop,et constitue les vins sucrcs rt'Es] agne, de Const i ice, etc,
La <■■, ur dej end d'un arorae particuher, pro] re au
raisin de chacue clunat."— Cours Gastronomique, 8vo. 1800, p. 289,
Q
70 THE AF.T OF INVIGORATING LIFE,
Accum on brewing, 1820.
Rawlinson, on brewing in small — printed
Johnson. 1807, price Is.; and Home Brewed > 3 te, printed for
Robinson, 1804, price 2s.
Facts proving water the best beverage. Printed by Srnee-
ton, in St. Martin's Lane.
Manuel de Somelier par A. Jullien, Paris, 1817.
PEPTIC PRECEPTS.
"Suaviter in niouo, sed fortiter in re;"
NOT one constitution in a thousand, is so happily con-
structed or is constantly in such perfect adjustment, that
the operations of the abdominal viscera (on which every
other movement of the system depends) proceed with
healthful regularity.
The following hints will point out to the reader, how to
employ art to afford that as sisl in :e to nature, which in in-
disposition and age, is so often required, and will teach
him to counteract in the most prompt and agreeahle man-
ner, the effects of those accidental deviations from strict
temperance, which sometimes overcome the most abste-
mious philosopher, when the seducing charms of convi-
viality tempt him to forego the prudent maxims of his
cooler moments.
They will help those who have delicate constitution! . I
obtain then fair share of health and strength, and instruct
the weak, so to economize the powers they have, that
they may enjoy life as well as the strong,
'1 o humour that desire for the marvellous, which is so
universal in medical (as well as in other) matters; the mak-
ers of Aperient Pills generally select the most drastic
purgatives, which operating considerably in a dose of a
few grains, excite admiration in the patient, and faith in
their powers, in proportion as a small dose produces a
great effect, who seldom considers how irritating such
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. 71
materials must be, and consequently how injurious to a
stomach in a state of debility, and perhaps deranged by
indulging appetite beyond the bounds of moderation.
Indigestion, will sometimes overtake the most expe-
rienced epicure; when the gustatory nerves are in good
humour. Hunger an-! savory viands will sometimes se-
duce the tongue of a "grand gourmand'''' to betray the in-
terest of his stomach* in spite of his brains.
On such an unfortunate occasion, whether the intestin-
al commotion be excited by having eaten too much, or too
strong food, lie down, have your tea early after dinner,
and drink it warm.
This is a hint to help the invalid, whose digestion is so
delicate, that it is sometimes disordered by a meal of the
strictest temperance. If the anxiety, &c. about the stom-
ach does not speedily abate, apply the "stomach z^armcrp
This valuable companion to aged and gouty subjects, may
be procured at No. 58. liaymarket.
A certain degree of beat is absolutely necessary to ex-
cite and support a regular process of digestion; when the
circulation is languid, and the food difficult of solution, in
aged persons and invalids; external heat will considerably
assist concoction, and the application of this califacient
concave will enable the digestive organs to overcome re-
fractory materials, and convert them into laudable chyle.
Unless the constitution is so confoundedly debilitated,
that the circulation cannot run alone, abstinence is the ea-
siest, cheapest, and best cure for the disorders which aiise
from indigestion or intemperance. I do not mean what
Celsus calls the first degree of it, "when the sick man
takes nothing" but the second, "when he takes nothing
but what he ought."
The chylopoietic organs are uncomfortable when en-
tirely unoccupied ; when the stomach is too tired to work,
and too weak to be employed on actual service, it desires
*"The human stomach i~ capable, in the adult, of containing
about three quarts of water."— Blujvienbach's Physiology, p. 145.
"By adopting an abstinent plan of diet, even to a decree that
produces a sensation of want in I a, we do that wl
most like to create appetite and increase the powers of digestion."
Abernethy's Surg. Obs. 68.
"t2 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
something to be introduced to it, that will entertain it till
it reccr. ers its energy.
After intemperate feasting one day, let the food of
the following day be liquid, or of such materials as ar«
eas} of solution. Various expedients have been recom-
(•• enting and re iie> ing the disorders arising
from too copious libations of "the regal purple stream."
good fellow has been sacrificing too liberally at
the shrine of the jolly God, the best remedy to help the
stomach to get rid of its burthen, is to take for supper
some gri . >. 572, sec Index,) with half an ounce of
butter, and a teaspoonful of Epsom Suit in it; or two or
three Peristaltic Persuaders, v. hich some gastropholi6t8
take as provocative to appetite, about an hour before din-
ner.
Some persons take as a "sequitur" a drachm of carbon-
ate of So J a.
Others a teaspoonful of Calcined Magnesia: when im-
mediate relief is required, never administer this uncertain
medicine, which, if the stomach has no acid ready to dis-
solve it, will remain inert; it must be taken, only when
heart-burn and symptoms of accidity are manifest.
As iijina/e to the day of the feast, or the overture of the
day after, take (No. 481,*) or two drachms of Epsom Salt
in half a pint of beef tea, or some tincture of rhubarb in
hot water; the first thing to be done, is to endeavour to
get rid of the offending' material.
A breakfast of beef tea* (No. 563.) is an excellent res-
torative; when the languor following hard drinking is ve-
ry distressing, indulge in the horizontal posture; (see Sies-
*To make Bf.ef or Mutton Tea. — Cut a pound of lean gra-
vy meat into thin slices, put it into a quart and half a pint of cold
water, set it over a tccntln fire where it will become gradually
warm ; when the scum rises catch it, cover the saucepan close, and
let it continue boiling for about two hours; skim the fat oft", strain
it through a seive or napkin; skim it again, let it stand ten min-
utes to settle, and then pour oil' the clear tea. To make half a
pint of beef tea in five minutes for three half-pence, see No. 252 ;
and to make good mutton broth for nothing, No. 490.
N. B. An onion, and a few grains of black pepper is sometimes
added. If the meat is boiled till it is thoroughly tender, mince it
and pound it as directed in No. 503 of the Cock's Ora< j.e, and
yon may have a dish of potted beef for the trouble »f making it.
I'EPTIC PRECEPTS. 4 &
ia, p. 42;) nothing removes it so effectually, or so soon
cheers the circulation, and sets ail right; get an early
luncheon of restorative broth or soup.
Hard drinking is doubly debilitating when pursued be-
yond the usual hour of retiring to rest.
Those devotees to the bottle, who never suffer the or
gies of Bacchus to encroach on the time which nature de-
mands for sleep, escape with impunity, many of the evils
which soon, and irreparably, impair the health of the mid-
night reveller.
A facetious observer of the inordinate degree in which
some people will indulge their palate, to the gratification
of which ihey sacrifice ail their other senses, recommends
such to have their soup seasoned with a tasteless purga-
tive, as the food of insane persons sometimes is, and so
prepare their bowels for the hard work they are going to
give them!!
To let the stomach have a holiday occasionally, i. e. a
liquid diet, of broth and vegetable soup, is one of the most
agreeable and most wholsome ways of restoring its tone.
If your appetite* be languid, take additional exercise in
a pure open air, or dine half an hour later than usual, and
so give time for the gastric juices to assemble in full force;
or dine upon fish, or Chinese soup, i. e. Tea.
If these simple meals are ineffectual, the next step, is
to produce energetic vibration in the alimentary tube,
without exciting inordinate action, or debilitating deple-
tion; and to empty the bowels, without irritating them.
' "-'II y a troi- sortes d'appetits; celui que Ton eprouve a jcun;
sensation imperieuse qui ae chicane point ?ur le mets, et qui \ous
fait venirl'eau a la bouclie, a I'aspect d'un bon ragout. Je le
compare au desir impetueux d'un jeune hommequi voir sourirela
beauto q'uil ame. Le second appetit est celui que l'on ressent lors-
que, s'etantmis a table sans faini, on a deja aroute d'un plat succu-
lent, et qui a consacre le proverbe, V appetit vient en mangeant, Je
J*a--iriiile a l'etatd'un maridont lc cceur tiede s'echauffe aux pre-
mieres caresses de sa fern me. Lt traisit me appetit est celui qu'ex*
cite un mets delicieux qui parait a la I'm d'un repas, lorsque l'esto-
mac satisfait, 1'bomme sobre allait quitter la tabic sans regret.
Celui-la trouve son embleme dans res leux du libertinage qui quoi-
que illusoires, font naitrecependant quelques plasirs reels. La con-
naissance de celte metaphysiquc de l'appetit doit guider le Cous-
inier habile dans la composition du premier, du second et du trois-
icme sendee." — Cours Oastronomique, p. 64.
G 2
/4 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
Sometimes when the languor occasioned by dyspcpsia,i,-c. i.
extreme, the torpor of the system becomes so tremend >us,
ihatno stimulus will help it. and the lieart feels as if it
was tired of boating, a moderate dose of a quickly opera-
ting aperient, i. c. half an ounce of tincture of rhubarb,
and two drachms of Epsom Salts in a tumbler of hot wa-
ter, will speedily restore its wonted energy.
Tin: stomach is the center of sympathy; if the most
minute fibre of the human frame be hurt, intelligence of
the injury instantaneously arrives; and the stomach is
disturbed, in proportion to the importance of the member,
and the degree in which it is offended.
If either the body or the mind be fatigued, the stomach
invariably sympathises; if the most robust do any thing
too much, the stomach is soon affronted; and does too lit-
tle: unless this main-spring of health be in perfect ad-
justment, the machinery of life will vibrate with languor;
those parts which are naturally weak, or have
ft in injured by accidents, &c. Constipation is increased
in stive habits, and diarrhoea in such as are subject
thereto, and all chronic complaints are exasperated,
esj ecially in persons past the age of 35 year-.
Of the various helps to science, none perhaps more
3 facilitate the acquirement of knowledge, than an-
ting; or illustrating an art we are ignor-
ant of, by one we arc acquainted with.
The human frame may be compared to a watch, of
which the heart is the main-spring, the stomach the regu-
lator, and what we put into it, the key by which the ma-
chine is wound Up; according to the quantity, quality and
pr p, r digestion of what zee eat* and drink will be the pace
of the pulse and the action of the system in general ; when
we observe a due proportion between the quantum of ex-
ercise and that of excitement, all goes well. If the ma-
chine be disordered, the same expedients are employed
for its re-adjustment, as are used by the watch maker; it
must be carefully cleansed, and judiciously oiled.
*"It is but increasing or diminishing the velocity of certain
flir ! 5 in the animal machine, to elate the soul with the gayeal
hopes, or to sink her into the deepest despair: tor: iu:ro
into .1 coward, or advance the coward into a hero." — Fitzos-
sorne's Letters, I. viii.
PEPTIC PRECEFTS. 75
Eating salads after dinner, and chilling the stomach,
and checking the progress of digestion by swilling cold
Soda Water, we hold to be other vulgar errors.
It is your superfluous second courses, and ridiculous
variety of wines, liqueurs, ices, desserts. &c. which (are
served up more to gratify the pride of the host, than the
appetite of the guests that) overcome the stomavh, and par-
alyze digestion, and seduce "children of larger growth''''
to sacrifice the health and comfort of several da}'S, for the
baby-pleasure of tickling their tongue for a few minutes,
with trifles and custards!!
Most of those who have written on what, by a strange
perversion of language, are most non-naturally termed the
non-naturals, have merely laid before the public a non-
sensical register of the peculiarities of their own palate,
and the idiosyncracies of their own constitution.*
Some omniverous cormorants have such an ever-crav-
ing appetite, that they are raging with hunger as soon as
they open their eyes, and bolt half a dozen hard eggs be-
ibre they are well awake; others are so perfectly restor-
ed by that "chief nourisher in life's feast," balmy sleep,
that thcv" do not think about eating, till they have been up
and actively emploj'ed for several hours.
*"Salt, pepper, and mustard, ay, vinegar too,
Are quite as unwholesome as Curry I vow,
All loveis of goose, duck, or pig, he'll engage,
That eat it with onion, salt, pepper or sage,
Will find ill effects from't," and therefore no doubt
Their prudence should tell them, best cat it without!
But, alas, these are subjects on which there's no reas'ning,
For you'll still eat your goose, duck or pig, with its seas'ning;
And what i- far worse, notwithstanding his huffing,
You'll make for your hare and your veal a good stuffing:
And I fear, if a leg of good mutton you boil
With sauce of vile capers, that mutton you'll spoil.
And tho', as you think to procure good digestion,
A mouthful of cheese is the best thing in question:
"In Galii do not tell, nor in Jlskalon blab it,
You're strictly forbidden to eat a Welch Rabbit." 1
And bread, "the main staff of our life," some will call
No more nor less, than "the worst thing of all."
See the Lady's Address to Willy Cadogan in his Kitchen,4to. 1771.
Some minute philosopher has published an 8vo. pamphlet of 56
: on the omnipotent '■'•virtues of a crust of bread eaten early
in the morning fasting ! ."' We have no doubt it is an admirable
specific for that grievous disorder of the stomach called hunger.
76 THE ART M INVIGORATING LIFIC.
The strong foot!, which the strong action of strong bo
dies require, would soon destroy weak ones; if the [a
attempt to follow the example of the former, instead ot
feeling invigorated, their stomachs will he as oppressed,
as a porter is with a load that is too heavy for him; and.
under the idea of swallowing what are called strengthen-
ing, nourishing things, will very soon make themselves
dy for the undertaker..
Some people seem to think, that the more plentifully
they stuff themselves, the hetter they must thrive, and
the stronger they must grow.
It is not (lie quantity that we swallow, but that.wb.ich is
properly digested, which nourishes us.
A moderate meal well digested, renders the hody vigor-
ous, glutting it v\ ith superfluity, (which is only turned into
exctement instead of aliment, and if not speedily evacua-
ted,) not only oppresses the system, hut produces all sorts
of disorders.
Some are continually inviting indigestion, by eating nodr
ter-cresses, or other undressed vegetables,* "to sweeten
their blood," or oysters "to enrich it." Others fancy
their dinner cannot digest till they have closed the orifice
of their stomachs with a certain portion of cheese; if the
preceding dinner hashed) a light one, a little bit of cheese
after it may* not do much harm, hut its character for en-
couraging concoction is undeserved) there is not a more
absurd vulgar error, than the often quoted proverb, that
"Cheese is a surly elf,
Digesting all things bat itsplf."
A third never eats goose, &c. without remembering that
brandy or cayenne is the Latin for it.
A much less portion of stimulus is necessary after a
hearty meal of califactive materials, such as good beef or
mutton, than after a maigre dinner of fish, &,c.
Another vulgar error in the school of good living is, that
"good eating requires good drinking."' Good eating gener-
ally implies high seasoned viands, the savoury herbs, and
■Are very crude indigestible materials for a weak stomach, un-
less warmed by (No. 372 ;) with the assistance of which, and plen-
ty of pepper you may eat even cucumbers with impunity.
"Peptic prf.cept^. 77
stimulating spices with which these haut-gouts are sprink-
led and stuffed &c. are sufficient to encourage the diges-
tive faculties to work '■'con eimore" 1 without any "douceur 1 "*
of vinous irritation, but; many persons make it a rule, af-
ter eating pig. &c. to take a glass of liqueur or eau de vie,
&c. or, as when used in this manner, it would be as pro-
perly called, ''can du morV
Indigestion", or, to use the term of the day, a bilious
attack, as ofien arises from over-exertion, or anxiety of
mind, as from refractory food; it frequently produces
flatulence,* and flatulence produces palpitation of the
heart: which is most difficult to stop, when it comes on a-
bout an hour or two after a meal; the stomach seems in-
capable of proceeding in its business, from being over-
distended with wind, which pressing on the heart and lar-
ger vessels, obstructs the circulation: as soon as this fla-
tulence is dispelled, all goes well again: inflating the
lungs to the utmost, i. e. taking in as mux!) breath as you
can, and holding it as long as you can, will sometimes act
as a counterbalance, and produce relief.
This is the first thing to do when this distressing spasm
attacks you, if it is not immediately checked; take a
strong peppermint ginger lozenge, (see page 44,) sit, or if
possible lie down and loosen all ligatures; the horizontal
posture and perfect quiet are grand panaces in this disor-
der; if these do not settle it, drink some stimulus; some-
times a teacupful of hot water, with a tea«poonful of com-
mon salt in it, will suffice, or a i,ouple of glasses of wine,
or one of brandy in one of hot water: either of there will
generally soon restore sufficient energy to the stomach, to
enable it to expel the enemy that offends it, and set the
circulation freely to work again. If these means are not
immediately efficacious, take half an ounce of tincture of
rhubarb in a quarter pint of hot water, or three or four per-
istaltic persuaders, with half a pint of hot water,
*Dr. Radcltffe, who succeeded better by speaking plainly t«
bis patients, than some of his successors have by the most subtle,
politeness, when asked what wa c the Lest remedy for wind in the
Stomach, replied, "that which will expel it quickest •" inquiring of
the ventose subject whether the wind passed per asccnsum, vel per
descensum, ob-.erxixiz, that the former is the most aggravated state
of ventriloquism, the latter a sign that their bowels are reco^
their healthful tone.
78 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LI] !
If this complaint comes on when the bowels .>r< i < -live,
they must be put into motion as speedily as possible, l>y
some of the means recommended in the following pages.
It will sometimes come on during the collapsed state of
the system from fasting too i.onc;.
Those who take no food between an early BREAKFAST, and
a late dinner, for fear as they term it, of spoiling the lat-
ter meal, generally complain of flatulence, languor, Ion
of $pi7-its, fyc. (and those who are troubled by a cough,
have often a paroxysm 1 of it,) for the hour or more before
dinner; and heartburn, &c. after it: the former arising
from tasting too long-, the latter from indulging an appe-
tite SO over excited, that a baron of beef, a pail of port
wine, and a tubful of tea, will hardly satisfy it.
The languor of inanition, and the fever of repletion,
may be easily avoided by eating a luncheon, solid ami nu-
tritive, in proportion as the dinner is protracted, and the
activity of the exercise to be taken in the mean-time.
The oftener you eat, the less ought to be eaten at a
time; and the less you eat at a time the oftener you
ought to eat: a weak stomach has a much better chance
of digesting two light meals, than one heavy one.
The stomach should be allowed time to empty itself, be-
fore we till it again.
There is not only a considerable difference in the diges-
tibility of various foods, hut also of the time required by
different stomachs to digest them, the sign of which, is
the return of appetite";
The digestion of aliment is perfect, and quickly per-
formed, in proportion to the keenness of our appetite at
the time of taking- it, more or less perfect mastication,
and the vigorous state of Die organs of digestion, as a gen-
eral rule; the interval of fasting should seldom be less
than three, nor more than live hours,* digestion being
generally completed within that lime.
*"My stomach digests food so slowly, Hint I cannot study for
fi\' or -, hours alter a very" sparing dinner." — Spallanzani on
Digestion, &c. vol. i. p.
"if the quantity of food b,i quality will cause a differ-
ence iu the time iace, slimy and viscid meals
are longer : ,. m the stomach than meats ol a contrary na-
ture: the flesh of some young animals is not so soon digested a- thjB
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. 79
The fashion of A. D. 1820, has introduced a much
longer fast ("a wind)' recreation," as father Paul assures
the lay brother) than even the elasticity of robust health
can endure, without distressing the adjustment of the sys-
tem, and creating such an over excited appetite, that the
stomach does not feel it has had enough, till it rinds that it
has been crammed too much.*
flesh of the -nine anim ,1 at their full growth ; thus veal
'amb are not so soon digested a- &< e/and mutton.
••A man who took a vomit every second night for come months
. (1. that when he had taken chicken for dinner, he alwayi
it up undigested, hut never threw up an_\ i undi-
when lie made his dinner oHeef or mutton." — Bay is Rob-;
.
ton seem to a rouble to the editor's stom-
ach than any kind of poultrv.
The following is copied from Dr. Scudamore on trout, '2d. edition,
me of the ex] related by Mr. Astley Coop-
delivered at the Royal College of Surgeons, in
which have only been published in Dr. S.'s Look, who informs
us, they were performed upon dogs, with a view to ascertain the
comparative solvent power of the gastric juice upon different arti-
lOOd.
"■Experiment 3.
Food. Form. Quantity. Animal killed. Lo~sby
stion.
Cheese. .Sptare. 100 pints. 4 hour-. 76
ton. 05
Fork. 3 6
Veal. 15
II
^Experiment, 6.
Long i; Narrow. 100 pints. 2 hoars.
Rabbit. " —
Cud Fish. 74
t'Experimi
Roast Veal do. 100 pint-. 2 hour-. 7
do. do. 30
*"Those who have weak ttomaehs} wfl be better able to di
their food, if they take their meals at regular hours ; In cause they
have both the stimulus of the aliment they take, and the periodic-
al habit to assist digestion." — Darwin's Zoonomia, vol I. p. 454.
"We often tease and disorder our stomachs bj itkstiuc for too
long a period, and when we have thn I i ,, hat ] ma* call
a discontented state of (he organ, unfitting il tar its office, n
teal, and fill it to its utmost, regardless of its powers or its
feeliug3." — AB£aJXETH¥'s Surg. Obs. p. 70.
8(J THE AIYT OF INVIGORATI'. I:f
u When hunger* calls, obey, nor often wait
Till hunger sharpens to corrosive pain;
For the keen appetite will feast beyond
What nature can well bear.''
This important truth, we would most strongly press on
the consideration of those who attend our Courts of L w
and Parliament.
Many industrious professional men, in order to add a
few pounds to their income, in a tew years are quite worn
out, from their digestive faculties being continually disor-
dered and fretted for want of regular supplies of food:
and sufficient sleep.
An egg boiled in the shell for five minutes, or Les Toi-
lettes ch Bouillon (No. 252,) and a bit of bread, is a con-
venient provision against the former; the Siesta (see p. 42}
is the best antidote for the latter.
The sensation of hunger arises from the gastric juices
acting upon the coats of the stomach; how injurious it
must be to fast so long, that by neglecting to supply it with
s me alimentary substance which this fluid was formed to
dissolve, the stomach becomes in danger of being digest-
ed itself!!!
Those who feel a gnawing, as they call it, in their stom-
ach, should not wait till the staled hour of dinner, but eat
a little forthwith,- that the stomach may have something
to work upon.
By too long fasting, wind accumulates in the stomach,
especially of those who have passed the meridian of life,
and produces a distressing flatulence, languor, faintness,
giddiness, palpitation of the heart, &c.
Jf the morning has been occupied by anxiety in business,
or the mind or body is fatigued by overexertion, thes<
symptoms will sometimes come on about an hour or two
before the usual time of dinner, A\eil masticating a bit of
biscuit, and letting a strong peppermint lozenge (see p. 44)
dissolve in the mouth as soon as you feel the first symptoms
of flatulence, will often pacify the stomach, and prevent
the increase of these complaints.
Dr. Whytt, whose observation on nervous disorders,
' " V philosopher being asked what was tlie best time to dine, an-
swered, lor a nch man, when he could get a stomach; for a poor
man, when he could get meat."
•PEPTIC PRECEPTS. 81
(like this work,) are valuable, in as much as they are the
authentic narrative of his own experience ; says, page .544,
••when my stomach has been weak, after 1 have been in-
disposed, 1 have often found myself much better for a glass
of Claret and a bit of bread, an hour or more before din-
ner, and 1 have ordered it in the same way to others, and
again in the evening, au hour or more before supper, with
advantage.
There is no doubt of the propriety of Dr. W«.'s pre-
scription, the editor's own feelings bear witness to it.
For tho*e who are just recovering from diseases which
have left them in a state of great debility, a glass of wine
and a bit of bread, or a cup of good Bmf Tea, (see p. 43)
are perhaps as good tonics as any; they not only remove
languor, but at the same time furnish nutriment.
We have known weak stomachs, when kept fasting be-
yond the time they expected, become so exhausted, they
would refuse to receive any solid food, until restored to
good temper, and wound up by some wine, or other stimu-
lus, as instinct proposed.
Feeble persons "ho are subject to such sudden attacks,
should always travel armed with a pocket pistol charged
with a couple of glasses of white wine, or, '•Veritable Eau
de Vie." a biscuit, and some strong peppermint or ginger
lozenges, or see '-Tablettes de Rouillon (No. 252:) when
their stomach is uneasy from emptiness, &.c. these crutch-
es will support the circulation, and considerably diminish,
and sometimes entirely pi event the distressing eiiects
which invalids suffer from too long a fast,*
*"When four hours be past, after breakfast, a man may safely
taste his dinner; the most convenient time for dinner, is about fie-
ven of the clocke before noon, — in 1570, this was the usual time of
serving it in the University of Oxford, elsewhere about nbone;
it commonly consisted, of boy led biefe, with pottage, bread and
beere, and no more; the quantity of biefe was in value an halfe-
penny for each mouth ; they supped at five cf the clocke in the af-
ternoon. * ; — Vide Cogan's Haven of Health, 1584, p. 187.
Early hours were as genteel in Dr. Cogan's time, as late ones
are now, 1821.
"Perhaps none of our old English customs have udergone so thor-
ough a change, as the hours of rising, taking refreshment, the
number of meals per rl i , and the time of retiring to rest.
'■The stately dames of Edward IV's Court, rose with the lark,
despatched their dinner at eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and
11
82 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
What a contrast there is between the materials (('the
morning meal A. 1). 15o0, when Queen Elizabeth's m
of honor began the day with a round of beef, or a red hi r-
ring, and ajlaggon of ale; and in 1821, when the sports-
man, and e\en the day-labourer, breakfast on what cooks
call "Chinese jSottp," i. c. Tea.
Swift has jocosely observed, such is the extent of mod-
ern epicurism, that "the a orld* must be encompassed, before
a washerwoman can sit down to breakfast" i. c. by a voyage
to the cast for Tea, and to the wcsl for Sugar.
Ill THE JNoRTUl 'MEERLAND HOUSEHOLD LOOK for 1512,
we are informed that "a thousand pounds was the sui i
nually expended in housekeeping, this maintained 166
sons, and the wheat was then 5s. Qd. per quarter.
"The family rose at six in the morning; my Lord and
my Lady had set on their table for breakfast, at seven
o\lock in the morning,
\ quart of Beer,
A quart of Wine,
Two pieces of Salt Fish,
Half a dozen Red Herrings,
Four white ones, and
A dish of Sprats!!!
shortly after eight were i rapped in slumber. How would thest
lable peo le (reasonable at least in this respect) be astonishr
ed could tiny Ixit be witness to the present distribution of time: a-
mong the children of fashion! Would they, not call the perverse
conduct of those who rise at one or two, dine at eight, and re-
tire to bed when the morning is unfolding all its glories, and na«
ture putting on her most pleasing aspect, absolute insanity!!" —
Warner's Antiq. Cvl. p. 134.
"The modern hours of eating are got to an excess that is per-
fectly ridiculous. Now, what do people get by this.' If they
make dinner their principal meal, and du not a\ ish to pall their
appetite by eating before it they injure their health. Then in
winter they have two hours of candlelight before dinner, and in
summer they are at table, during the pleasantest part of the daj ;
and ail this, to get a long morning, for idle people, to whom one
u-ould suppose the shortest morning would seem too long." — Pye'S
.Sketehcs, l2mo. 1797, p. 174.
tr. reck, Grocer, &c. No. 175, Strand, has printed a very in-
ius chart of the "Creographie de la Gtourrnmidise?* "A map
of the four quarters of the world, intended to show the different
pari- from whence all the articles in his catalogue are impoi
tlso "Carte Gastronomi^UE, de i.a 1 ran< e," prefixed to
that entertaining work, "Ccu^a GA.sTROjNoMio.tjt:," 8vo. 1009
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. 83
They dined at fen, supped at four in the afternoon; the
gates were all shut at nine, and no further ingress or egress
permitted/" — See pages 314 and 318.
But now, A." D. 1821,
"The gentleman who dines the latest
Is, in our Street, esteemed the greatest ;
But surely greater than them all
Is he who never dines* at all.
DINNERS AT NIGHT AND SUPPERS IN THE
MORNING?,
A few cautionary hints to modern Fashionables.
The ancients did delight, forsooth,
To sport in allegoric truth :
Apollo, as we long have read since,
Was God of Music, and of MecPcines.
In prose, Apollo is the Sun,
And when he has his course hegun,
The allegory then implies
'Tis time for wise men to arise;
For ancient sages all commend
The morning, as the Muses friend;
But modern wits are seldom able
To sift the moral of this fable;
But give to sleep's oblivious power
The treasures of the morning hour,
And leave reluctant, and with pain,
With feeble nerve, and muddy brain.
Their favourite couches late at noon,
And cpiit them then perhaps too soon.
Mistaking by a svmbiind sight
The night for day, and day for night.
Quitting their healthful guide Apollo,
What fatal follies do they follow!
Dinners, at night, and in the morn
Suppers, serv'd up as if in scorn
Of Nature's wholesome regulations,
Both in their viands and potations.
*•'• A wag, on being told it was the fashion to dine later and later
«very day, said, he supposed it would end at last in not dining till
tc-morr<ne!f >
84 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
Besides Apollo is M. D.
A c all Mythologists agree,
And skill'd in herbs and all their virtues,
A* well as A3 Ion is, or Curtis.
No doubt his oMoUoncy would stoop
To dictate a receipt for Soup,
Show as much skill in dressing Sallad,
As in composing ot* a Ballad.
'Twixt health and riot draw a line,
And teach us how, and when, to dine.
The stomach, that gt cat organ, soon,
If overcharg'd is out of tune,
Blown up with wind that sore annoys
The ear with most unhallow'd noise!!
Now all these sorrows and diseases
A man may fly from if he pleases;
For rising early will restore
His powers to what they were before.
Teach him to dine at nature's call,
And to sup lightly, if at all;
Teach him each morning to preserve
The active brain and steady nerve;
Provide him with a share of health
For the pursuit of fame, or wealth;
And leave the folly of Night Dinners
To Fools and Dandies, and Old Sinners !"."
That distressing interruption of the circulation which i»
called "Nightmare," "Globus Hystericus," " Spasms'*
"Cramp," or "Gout," in the stomach, with which few
who have passed the meridian of life,* .'re so fortunate
*"It is at the. commencement of decline, i. e. about our40tli year.
that the stomach begins to require peculiar care and precaution.
People who have been subject to indigestions before, have them
then more frequent and mure violent; and those who have never
been so afflicted begin to suffer them from slight causes: a want
of attention to which too frequently leads to the destruction of the
best constitutions, especially of the studious, who neglect to take
due exercise. The remedey proposed is Ipecacuanha, in a dose
that will not occasion any nausea; but enough to excite such
an increased action of the virmicular movement of the stomach,
that the phlegm may be separated and ex| (died from that organ.
"The effects of it surpassed his mos1 sanguine h > es l>; the use
of it, notwithstanding he had naturally a delicate constitution.
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. ¥ ob
as not to be too well acquainted, we believe to arise from
the same causes, which in the day produce palpitation of
the heart.
The editor is now in his forty-third year, and has been
from his youth occasionally afflicted with both these disor-
ders; sometimes without being able to imagine what has
produced them: sometimes he has not been attacked with
either of these complaints for. many months; they have
then seized him for a week or more, and as unaccountably
ceased.
The Nightmare has generally come on about three
oxlock in the morning, at the termination of the first,
or rather at the commencement of the second sleep;
quite as often when he has taken only a liquid or very
light supper, as when he has eaten some solid food, and
gone to bed soon after; and most frequently after he has
dined* out: not from the quantity, but the quality of the
food and drink he has taken, the change of the time of
taking it. The fatigue attending his performance of Am-
phytrion at his own table, has also occasionally produ-
ced it.
It appears to be occasioned by want of action in the sys-
tem, being generally preceded by languor, (which, if not
removed, may proceed to produce palsy, or death,) caused
either by depression of the power of the heart by anxiety,
he weathered the storms of the Revolution," &c. and lived to be
The above is an extract from Dr. Buchan's translation of Mr.
Dai'benton's Observations on Indigestion. This treatise brought
Ipecacuanha Lozenges into fashion", as the most easy and agreea-
ble manner of taking it: they contain about one-sixth of a grain,
and are prepared and sold by Savory and Moore, Chemists, in
Bond Street.
'Delicate people, who are accustomed to dine at a certain hour,
on certain food, &c. are generally deranged as often as they dine
out, and change the hour, &c.
The editor has a patient who never dines out without suffering
severely for several days after, not from over-eating or drinking,
A:c. but from the change of diet, and the time of taking if. His
habit is to make a hearty meal off one dish at. five o'clock, and
drink with it some good heartening home-brewed beer, and two or
three glasses of wine, that has not been kept till it has lost its best
rinalit.
IT 2
THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
;rtion of the peristaltic motion by the oppression of
estible matter, or interruption of the performance of
t;.e restorative proo
it is certainly not to he prevented by abstinence, for du-
ring the time that the editor was trying the effect of a
I be wa&inost frequently afflicted with it. — See
< ' s. on Si EF.r, &c. !t is only to lie reiie\ ed by stimulants,
and in an extreme case, by quickly acting aperients, &.c.
.low ing pi
is are peculiarly subject to it when they lie
on their hack, others if on their left side: when tire editor
has ai -iiion to this malady, it is certainly exaspe-
if he lays upon his right side, especially during the
fust part of the night; it is a good custom to lay one half
of the night on one side, and the other half on the other.
YVhen (Ms appalling cause of the circulation takes place,
he wakes, with the idea that another minute of such sus-
peuded action will' terminate his existence: his first re-
couise is to foice the action of the Lungs, by breathing as
quick and as deep as possible. He feels very languid,
ano to prevent a return of the tit, drinks a couple of glas-
ses of white :ine, or half a wine-glass of brandy, in a
nine-glass of peppermint ivater.
Sometimes the disorder does not terminate with one
paroxysm, but recurs as socn as sleep returns: when this
is tlie case, get half a tumbler of hot water, add to it a
wine-glass of Peppermint Water, and half that quantity of
Tincture of Rhubarb, or fifty drops of Sal Volatile, or
both.
The symptoms of security from a repetition of the fit.
is a vermicular sensation, betokening that the peristaltic
motion, and the circulation is restored to its regular pace
again.
• His belief that many sudden and unaccountable deaths
in the night have arisen firm invalids not knowing how
to manage this disorder, induces the. editor to relate his
own personal experience concerning it, and the remedies
which he has found effectual to remove it.
"> T on i'/aara mali, misrris succurrere disco."
The case is very similar to what Dr. Whytt relates of
himself, in his Observations on Nnrvou* Hysteric, and Hypo-
peptic VRECerrs. 87
..,'iGiichiac Disorders, 8vo. 17G7 ;* by which Dr. Ccjllen.
in page 10 of his Clinical Lectures, says "he has done
moie than all his predecessors. 1 ''
Mr. Wallcr 1ms written a very sensible essay on the
Nightmare; those who are much afflicted with it, cannot
lay out 3a\ 6d. better, than in buying his book, l?mo. 1816.
He says, "it most frequently proceeds from acidity in the
Stomach, and recommends Carbonate of Soda, to be taken
in the beer you drink at dinner." He tells us "he deriv-
ed his iuformation, as to the cause, and cure of this dis-
tressing disorder, from a personal acquaintance with it for
many years."'
How devoutly it is to be wished that all authors would
follow good old Sydenham and Mr. Walter's example,
and give us a register of the progress of those chronic
complaints which they have themselves been afflicted
with, and the regimen, &c. which they have found most
effectual to alleviate and cure them; and, instead of what
they think, write only what they know, as the pains-tak-
ing Sanctoiuus, SfALLANZAM, Uryan Robinson, and the
* Dr. W. says: "When the stomach is in a sound state, and di-
gestion is properly performed, the spirits are good, and the body' is
light and easy ; but When that organ is out of order, a languor, de-
bility, discontent, melancholy watchfulness, or troublesome dream?,
the nightmare, &c. are the consequences. I have often been seiz-
ed with a slight Incubus, attended with a faintness, as if the circu-
lation was a good deal obstructed before I was fully asleep, which
has made me set up suddenly : while I lay awake I felt nothing of
these symptoms, excep jree of uneasiness about my stom-
ach : but when I was just about to fall asleep they began to return
again." "In this way I have gone on for two or three hours or
more, in the beginning of the.night. At last, I found that a dram
of brandy after the first attack kept me < a-v the whole nightj" p.
311. "When affected with uneasy sensations from wind, 1 have.
not onlv been sensible of a general debility and flatness of spirits
but the unexpected opening of a door, or any such trifling unfore-
seen accident, has instantly occasioned an odd sensation about my
heart, extending itself to m ■ head and arm-, fee. At other I i
when my stomach i? in a firmer state, I have no such feeling: at
least, in a very small degree, from causes which might be thi
more apt to produce them. Faftrtihgs, tremors, palpitatixjns
heart, convulsive motion c , and all these disorders v, hioh are e
nervous, <Scc. &c. pre often owing more to theih oi the
first passajes, than to any fault either in the brain or heart," p
J32, Sec,
Dr. YVnytt died A. D. 1766, fn his 52d year.
80 iill. ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
persevering and minutely accurately observing Dr. Stark '
have in their Dietical Experiments.
Dr. Wiiytt has immortalized himself by th candid
relation of his own infirmities, and his ci'cu.-ta tiai ac-
count of the regimen, &c. which enabled h m to hear up
against them; which forms the most valuable collection of
observations on nervous complaints, that experience and
liberality have yet presented to the public.
One page of personal experience, is worth folios of
theoretic fancies, or clinical cases, which can only be illu-
minated by the twilight of conjecture; they may be faith-
ful narratives of the accounts given by patients, yet, as
these are very often imposed upon by their imagination,
attributing effects to very different causes than those which
produce them, they are often very inaccurate deductions.
The delicate and the nervous, will derive the great-
est advantage from keeping a register of their health; they
should note, and avoid whatever disagrees with them,
and endeavor to ascertain, what kind and quantity of food,
exercise, occupation, and pleasures, k,c. are most agreea-
ble to their constitution, and take them at those regular
periods which appear most convenient to them. Howev-
er this advice may excite the smiles of those who "are
swelling "in all the pride of superfluous health," such
methodical movements will considerably improve the en-
joyment, and prolong the life of the valetudinary and the
aged : for whom, instinct is the best guide in the choice of
aliment.
None but the most obstinate Ignorant visionary, would
dream of laying down absolute rules* for governing the
caprice and whims of infirm stomachs of crazy valetudin-
'• ; Physicians appeal; to be too strict and particular in their rules
of diet and regimen; too anxious attention to those rule- bath of-
ten hurt .those who wire well, and added unnecessarily to the
distresses of the sick. Whether meat should be boiled or roasted,
o- dressed in any other plain way, and what sort of vegetables
should be eaten with it, I never yet met with any person of com-
mon sen-c (except in acute illness) whom I did' not think much
titter to choose for himself, than I was to determine for him." — Dn.
HjeberjdEin" on Diet.
"When ihe stomach is weak, it seems particularly necessary that
our food should be nutritive and easy of digestion.
"f may further observe, that its qualities should be adapted to
the feelings of the stomach.
PEPTIC PRECEPTS, 8$
sxeans. Codes of dietetic** are almost useless, the sug-
gestions of reason are often in direct opposition to the de-
sires of appetite.
In most matters regarding the adjustment of that su-
preme organ of existence, the stomach, "honest instinct!
"In proof of this proposition, numerous instances uii^ht be men-
tioned of apparently unfit substances agreeing with the stomach,
bein? digested and even quieting ari irritable state of the stomach,
merely because they were suitable to its feelings. Instances might
also be mentioned of changes in diet producing a tranquil and
healthy state of stomach in cases where medicines had been tried
in vain." — Abernethy's Surg. Obs. p. 68.
* U A Fool, or a Physician at f>rty, is an adage containing
more truth than is commonly believed. He who has not by that
time learned to observe the causes of self-disorder, shows little
signs of wisdom ; and he who has carefully noted the things which
create disorder in himself, must by his own experience possesE
much knowledge, that a physician at a pop visit ought not to pre-
tend to. " — Domestic Management, 1813, p. xxxvi.
T u Griixtjs, who, according to the doctrine of Transmigration,
(as Plutarch tells us) had, in his turn, been a beast, discourses
how much better he fed and lived then, than when he was turned
to max again, as knowing thru what food was best and most pro-
per for him, winch Sarcophagists (flesh eaters) in all this time were
yet to seek." — Evsxyn's Ace tana, l2mo. 1699, p. 89.
"Instinct than reason makes more wholesome meals."' — Youxc
"My appetite is in several things of itself happily enough ac-
commodated to the health of my stomach : whatever I take a-
gainst my liking does me harm: but nothing hurts me that I eat
with appetite and delight." — Vide honest Montaigne's Essay on
Experience, book iii. chap. xiii.
"The stomach gives information when the supplies have been
expended, and represents with great exactness the quantity and
quality of whatever is wanted in the present state of the machine,
and, in proportion as it meets with neglect, rises in its demand,
and urges its petition with a louder voice." — Dr. Wm. Hunter's
Introductory Lecture, 4to. p. 81.
'•Take food in proportion to the quantity of nourishment con-
tained in it, of which the stomach appears from instinct to be ca-
pable of judging.*' — J. Hunter on the Animal Economy, 4to.
p. 221.
"Promoted by instinct's never errinc; power,
Each creature knows its own proper aliment,
Directed, bounded by this power within,
Their cravings are well aimed; voluptuous man,
Is b. superior faculties misled;
Misled from pleasure, even in '.nest of joy."
Armstrong's Art of Preserving Health.
90 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
"comes a vulunteer."' Ventriloquism seldom fails to make
out a fair title, to be called "unerring." A due respect
to the suggestions of instinct, every invalid will find high-
ly advantageous; natural lodging lias frequently pointed
out food, by which acute diseases have been cured, when
the most consummate medical skill was at fault, and life at
its lowest ebb.
it is needless to insist upon the importance of diet and
regimen in chronic disorders.
Be content with ONE dish; from want of submission to
this salutary rule of temperance, as many men di<r their
grave with their teeth, as with the tankard; Drunkenness
is deplorably destructive, but her demurer sister Glut-
tony destroys a hundred to her one.
Instinct speaks pretty plainly to those whose instruments
of digestion are in a delicate state, and is an infinitely
surer guide than any dietetic rules that can be contrived.
"Our stomach is, in general, a pretty good judge of what is best
for it; thousands have perished for.being inattentive to its rails,
lor one who has implicitly obeyed them." — Dr. Smith's Guide in
Sickness, ovo. p. 59.
"In every case wherein we wish to preserve strength (as in most
chronical complaints) we should be extremely cautious in prescrib-
ing a ri.;id regimen, especially if it is intended to be lon^ continu-
ed" Things disagreeable to the palate, seldom digest well, or con-
tribute to the nourishment o.' i.ne body." — Fj looker on Diet,
pages 7 and 8.
" What is most grateful to the palate, sits most easy on the stom-
ach." — Adair on Dirt, p. 28.
"Longings directed by the pure guidance of instinct, and not
arising merely from opinion, may not only be satisfied with impu-
nity; but generally be indulged in with advantage." — Withers on
Ike Abase of Medicine, 8vo. p. '233.
*"As to the quality of food, although whatever is easy of diges-
tion, singly considered, deserve s the preference, j <■( regard musl be
had to the palate and to the appetite, because it is frequently found,
that what the stomach earnestly covets, though of dillieult d
tion, does nevertheless digest better limn what is esteemed of ea-
sier digestion if the stomach nauseates it: I am of tin' opinion
the patient ought to eat only of one dish at a meal." — Sydenham
on Gout.
"Every animal but man keeps to one dish; herbs are the food of
this species, fish of that, and flesh of a third." — SPECTATOR,' No. 95.
"Be content with one dish at a meal, in the choice 1 of that con-
sult your pnla ;-."— Ma.ndeville on Hypocondriasi*, p. 316.
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. 91
That the food which we fancy most, generally sits ea-
siest on the stomach, is a fact which the experience of al-
most every individual can confirm.
The functions of digestion go on merrily when exercis-
ed by aliment which the stomach asks for, they often la-
bour in vain when we eat mere'13' because it is the usual
time of dining, or out of necessity, to amuse the gastric
juices, and "lull the grinding stomach's hungry rage."
To affirm that any thing is wholesome, or unwholesome,
without considering the subject in all its circumstances to
which it bears relation, and the unaccountable peculiari-
ties of different constitutions, is, with submission, talking
nonsense.
Let every man consult his stomach; to eat and drink
such things, and in such quantities, as agree with that
perfectly well, is wholesome for him, whilst they contin-
ue to do so:* that which satisties and refreshes us, and
causes no uneasiness after, may safely he taken in modera-
tion, whenever the appetite is keen, .whether it be at din-
ner or supper.
What we have been longest used to, is most likely to
agree v. ith us best.
The whoiesomeness, Lc. of all food, depends very much
on the quality of it, and the way in which it is cooked.
Those who are poor in health must live as they can;
certainly the les- stimulus any of us use the better, provi-
ded it be sullicient to properly carry on the circulation:
1 sometimes hold it lawful to excite appetite when it is
feeble by age, or debilitated by indisposition.
Those stimuli which excite the circulation at the least
expense of nervous irritation, and afford the greatest
quantity of nutriment, must be most acceptable to the
stomach, when it demands restorative diet.
A healthful impetus may be given to the system by a
well seasoned soup, or a restorative ragout, at half the ex-
pense to the machinery of life, than by the use of those
spirituous stimuli, which fan a feverish lire, exciting ac
tion without supplying the expenditure of the principle
producing it, and merely quicken the circulation for a few
*It is surprising how much the condition and disposition of the
stomach and int< >tin< - will vary in the same person at different
tunes." — Whyttw Ike Nerves, p. 127
92 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
minutes, without contributing any material to feed the
lamp of life, which, if it be originally or organically de-
fective, cr is impaired by time or disease, will sometimes
not burn brightly, unless it be supplied with the best oil,
and trimmed in the most skilful manner.
Gocd Mock Turtle, see (No. 24G, or 247,) will agree
with weak stomachs surprisingly well, so will that made
l:\ Birch in Com/till, and by i\w at Albion House, Al-
dersgate Street. . This excellent soup, is frequently order-
ed for dispeptic patients, by the senior physician to one
of the largest hospitals in this metropolis: as a man of
science and talent, certainly in as high estimation as any
of bis cotemporaries.
Ox-tail soup (Wo. 240.) Giblct soup (No. 244,) and (No.
87,) and (No. 89,) and (No. 489.) and (No. 503,) are very
agreeable extempore restoratives, so easy of digestion,
that they are a sinecure to the stomach, and give very lit-
tle trouble to the chylopoietie organs; those whose teeth
are defective, and those whose circulation is below par,
will find them acceptable foods. "Experto crede^ the
reader will remember Baglivis chapter li de Idolis Medic-
orum, n wherein he tells us, that "physicians always pre-
6 line to otbers, what they like themselves.'''' The learn-
ed Mandeville has favoured us with rive pages on the
incomparably invigorating \irtuesof Stuck Fish!! a kind
of cod which is dried without being salted. See pages
31G, &;c. of his Treatise on Hypocondriasis.
The best answers, to all inquiries about the wholesomes,
are the following questions: "Do you like it?" "Doe*? it
agree with you?" "Then eat in moderation, and you can-
not do very wrong."
Those who have long lived luxurious',}', to be sufficiently
nourished, must be regularly supplied with food that is
nutritive, and drink that is stimulating;* spice and u ~wr.
are as needful to the "Bon Vivabtt" of a certain age,
as its mother's milk, is to a New-Born Babe.
The decrease of the energy of life arises from the de-
crease of the actions of the organs of the bod}', especial-
ly those of digestion, which in early life is so intense and
^"Man}- p r u 'e t • be sufficiently nourished, must be supplied
jrith food exceeding 1 ) stimulating.' 1 — Sturve's Jlsthenology, 8vo
!80l,p. 280.
ITEJP'fie FKECEPTS. §3
perfect, that a child, after its common imexcitant meal of
bread and milk, is as hilarous and frolicsome .is an adult
person is after a certain quantity of roast beef and port.
The infirm stomachs of invalids, require a littie indul-
gence;* like other had instruments, they often want oiling
and screwing, and winding up and adjusting with the ut-
most care, to keep them in tolerable order; and will re-
ceive the most salutary stimulus, from now and then mak-
ing a full meal of a favorite dish. This is not a singular
notion of my own, though it may not exactly agree with
the fastidious fancy of Dr. Sangradoh disciples, that star-
vation and phlebotomy, are sovereign remedies for all
disorders.
Those philanthropic physicians. Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet,
and Dr. Merryman, hold the same doctrine as the Magnus
Coquus ; ?'. e. the author of the "Cook's Oracle" to whose
culinary skill we have been so repeatedly indebted in the
composition of this work.
As excessive eating and drinking is certainly the most
frequent cause of the disorders of the rich, so privation
is the common source of complaints among the poor; the
cause of the one is the cure of the other, but where one
of the latter dies of want, how many thousands of the
former are destroyed by indigestion!
If strong spices and savory herbs excite appetite, they
(in an increased ratio.) accelerate the action of the bow-
els, and hurry the food through the alimentary canal too
rapidly to allow the absorbents to do their work properly.
Salt is the most salubrious and easily obtainable relish
which nature has given us to give sapidity to other sub-
stances; and has this advantage overall other sauces, that
if taken to excess, it carries its remedy with it in its ape-
rient quality.
We suspect that the most mischief is done by the im-
*"Whosoever dreameth that no Hckrnan- should be allured to
meat, by delightful and |>Jeasant sauces, seemeth as froward and
fantastical as he that would never w het his knife.
"Why hath nature brought forth such variety of herbs, roots,
spices, he. fit for nothing but sauces, <kc. but that by thejii, the
sick should be allured to feed.
"Abstinence is as dangerous, as fulne-s and satiety is incOBvell;
jent." — Dr. Moff£T on Food.'; \. L Znio. 1746, p. 343.
I
434 Tlir. ART OF INVIGORATING LIFB.
moderate and constant use of the common r.
We have seen some puritanical folks, who are forevei
ting that they never touch madi i t«;s, &
suppose they had th / Pityllus,*) so be-dei 11
ry morsel they put into their mouth. v>
tard, kc. that they made their common food ten times
more piquante, than the burn-gullet Bonne Bon
eastern nabob, or a broiled Devil, enveloped in "veritable
sauce (fEnier/* — See (iNo. ." '
We do not condemn the moderate use of spices, but the
constant and excessive abuse of them, by which the papil-
lary nerve's of the tongue become so blunted, that in a lit-
tle time they loose all relish for useful nourishing food,
and the epicure is punished with all the sufferings of inces-
sant and incurable indigestion, perturbed sicep, and (he
horrors of the night-mare, &c. e^c. However, enough
been written by a thousand cauti to convince
rational creature of the advantage resulting V i,( : '> the
body and tiie mind from a simple and frugal fart : ihc .
I of health and longevity io to keep up the sensibili;
stomach.
No regimen - ] can be contrived that will suit every
body.
*"This genllj • o cold a ' Jos,) thaj
"he ma< h fo? tongue, that he might swallow down
ling hot; yea, 1 myself have known a Shropshire
i of the like quality. ' — Dr.M vron Fborf,4to. 16 >5
p. 287.
•r"7i i ■ ars to l)o of (!■•- same nature, from whatever
indiflerent
counti . .vould probablj a] , rove of (lie
diet used in their own, and would ntstoprove
•.. iili num< r >us and admirable i
lieir theo rj .
"An Engij Ian in would pr< I opinion that whi at-1
Lion of animal food, gives the stron est and
substantial nourishing
"An Irishman, or a Scotchman, would probably maintain that
of animal food, with plenty of | I oat-
ada i d to form a vigorous and bard} race.
almost entirety upon. animal food; tru !lin-
(ioos .: ; &c. m ver taste an\ thing but vegetables," —
". ).
! ; of a. few years, the produce of several acr
PEPTIC! PB.ECEM 3
Try all thebounties of this fertile globe,
There is not such a salutary food
\s suits with eveiy stomach."
Dr. Armstrong's Art of Preserving Health, bookii. line 120-
: 'I knew a Mack servant of Mr. Pitt, an Indian mer-
chant in America, who was fond of sour made of Rattlf.
Snakes^ in which the head without any regard to the poi-
son, was boiled along with the rest of the animal " — Dr.
G. Fordyoe Oi: ■ &c. 8vo. i 79 J , p. 1 19.
No food is so delicious that it pleases all palates; noth-
ing can be more correct than the old adage '-one man's
meat is another man's poison."
It would he as difficult for a Laplander, or an earth-eat
ing Ottomaque, to convince our good citizens that train oil,
and guttermud, is a more elegant relish than their favorite
turtle, as for the former to fancy thatKay or Birch's soup
can be as agreeable as the grease and garbage which cus-
tom has taught them to think delicious.
"•Man differs more from m?n
Than man from beast." — Cotw \\
Celsus* very sensibly says, that "a healthy man, uncle;
land, a number of large oxen, and many tons of liquor, are con-
sumed by one individual ; whilst he contra the ramr,
whether he drinks thi m, or beverage the most skilfully
compounded; whether he feds on a variety of articles pr<
from the animal and vegetable kingdom, or i iself to one
particular substance ; and whether his food is prepared in the most
simple manner, or by the most refined and artificial modes that
luxury lias invented." — Code of Health, vol. i. p. 402.
Farts relative to Diet. — "JDr, B. Franklin, of Philadelphia, in-
formed me that he himsi i a journeyman printer, lived a
fortnight on bread and water. >rth of bread
per week, and that he found himself stout and hearty with this
diet."
"By Sir John Pringic I was told that he knew a lady now 90
years of age, who eat only the pure fat of in-
"Dr. Cirelli says, that the Neapolitan physicians frequently al-
low their patients in f< ling but water for 40 da
ii'."- — Dr. Stark on Diet, &c. 4to. 178fS, p. 92, a work well worth
the purchase of any person \i ct. As is also
Dr. Bryan Robinson, on Food and Discharges of Human Bodies.
*"A constant adherence to one sort of diet, may have bad ef-
on any 'constitution. Nature has provided a great variety of
SG THR ART *F INTiaORATrN'O t.if£.
bis own government, ought not to tie himself dp by strict
rules, nor to abstain from any sorl of food; thai he ought
sometimes to fast, and sometimes to feast." — Sanis, sunt
omnia Sana.-
When the stomach sends forth eructant signals of dis-
tress, for help against indigestion, the Peristaltic Pers&a-
ders (see l ! e end of this essay) are as agreeable and ef-
fectual assistance as can be offered; and for delicate con-
stitutions, and those that are impaired by age or intemper-
ance, are a valuable panacea.
They derive and deserve this name, from the peculiar
mildness of their operation.*
One or two very gently increase the action of the prin-
cipal viscera, help them to do their work a little faster;
and enable the stomach to serve with an ejectment what-
ever offends it, and move it into the how els.
'( hus indigestion is easily and speedily removed, appetite
re- tored, (the mouths of the absorbing vessels being clean-
ied,) nutrition is facilitated, and strength of body and ener-
gy of mind,t are the happy results.
If an immediate operation be desired, take some tinc-
ture of rhubarb; as n pill is the most genteel and gradual-
ly operating form for a drug, a tincture in which it is as it
dy digested, is the most immediate in its action.
To make Tincture of Rhubarb. — Steep three oun-
ces of the 1 est rhubarb (pounded) and half an ounce of
can:: Is, (pounded) in a bottle of brandy, for ten
days. A table-spoonful in a -wine-glass of hot water will
generally be enough.
uourishment for human creatures, and furnished us with appetites*
to desire, and organs to digest them.
"Ail unerring regularity is almost impracticable, and the swerv-
ing from it, when it has grown habitual, dangerous; for every un-
usual thing in a human body becomes a stimulus as wine or flesh
meat to one not used to them ; thereto; e CelsutPs Huh 1 , v. il h proper
moral restrictions is a good one." — Arbuthnot on. Aliment, pa-
ges 218 and 219.
A ptli, is the mildest form of administering medicine, b<
of its gradual solution in the stomach, and the same quantity of
the same material, taken in a draft produces a very different effect.
t u He that would have a clear head, must have 9 clean stomach"
Chetpk tn Health, p. 34.
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. 97
Compound Tincture of Senna, has been recommended,
especially to those who have accustomed themselves to
the use of spirituous liquors and high living. Several sim-
ilar preparations are sold under the name oi Daffy's Elixir,
or as much Epsom Salt, in half a pint of hot water, as
experience has informed you, will produce one motion; a
tea-spoonful (i. e. from one to two drachms) will generally
do this, especially if it be taken in the morning, fasting,
i. e. at least half an hour before breakfast.
The best way of covering the taste of salt, is to put a
lump of sugar and a bit of thin-cut lemon peel* into the hot
water, for a few minutes before you stir the salt into it, to
which you may add a few grains of grated ginger.
Epsom Salt is a very speedy laxative, often operating
within an hour, does the business required of it with great
regularity, and is more uniform in what it does, and when
it does it, than any aperient; ten minutes after you have
taken it, encourage its operation by drinking half a pint,
or more, of warm water, weak broth, tea, thin gruel (No.
572,) with some salt and butter in it, or Soda water (No.
481.*) See Index.
"J\il tarn ad sanitatem, et longevitatem conducit, quam cre-
brce et domestical purgationes?" 1 — Lord Bacon, i. e. "Noth-
ing contributes so much to preserve health, and prolong
life, as .frequently cleansing the alimentary canal with
gentle laxatives.' 1
We perfectly agree with Lord Bacon, and believe that in
nine cases out of ten, for which tonic medicines are ad-
ministered, Peristaltic Persuaders will not only much more
certainly improve the appetite, but invigorate the consti-
tution: by facilitating the absorption of nutriment, which
in aged and debilitated people, is often prevented by the
mouths of the vessels being half closed by the accumula-
tion of viscid mucus, &.c.
* Quintessence of Lemon Peel, (No. 418,) best oil of Lemon, one
drachm; strongest rectified spirit, two ounces, introduced by de-
'stc r -s, till the spirit kills and completely mixe3 with the oil. This
elegant and useful preparation, possesses all the delightful fra-
grance and flavour of the freshest Lemon peel; for which you will
find it a satisfactory substitute. A few drops on the sugar you
make punch with, will instantly impregnate it with as much fla*
pour as the troublesome and tedious method of rubbing the sugar
on the rind,
12
THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
Aperient medicine does enough, if it increases the
I evacuation, and does too much, if it does more,
than excite one additional motion.
lowels which are forced into double action to-day, mu«t
consequently, be costive to-morrow, and constipation will
be caused by the remedy you have recourse to remove
it; this bag given rise to a vulgar error, that the use of
even t!ie mildest laxative is followed by costiveness.
Rhubarb is particularly under this prejudice, because it
has 'eeii more frequently employed as a domestic remedy,
and unadvisedly admini-tered in either too little, or too
large a dose. It has, however, been recommended, by a
physician of acknowledged ability, and extensive expe-
rience.
"If the bowels are constipated, they should be kept re-
gulai by a pill of rhubarb of five grains every morning."
kto.n on the Abdominal Viscera, p. 1 13.
People are often needlessly uneasy about the action of
their bowels, if their general health is good, and they
have neither head-ach nor other deranged sensations, and
they live tempeiately, during the second period of life,
whether they have two motions in one day, or one in two
days perhaps is not of much consequence: however, that
the alvine exoneration should take place regularly is cer-
tainly most desirable; especially after thirty-five years of
age,* when the elasticity of the machinery of life begins
to diminish.
To acquire a habit of regularity, Mr. Locke, who was a
physician as well as a philosopher, advises that "if any
person, as soon as he has breakfasted, would presently so-
licit nature, so as to obtain a stool, he might in time, by a
constant application, bring it to be habitual." He says,
"1 have known none who have been steady in the prosecu-
tion of this plan, who did not in a few months obtain the
desired success." — On Education, p. 23, &c.
"it is well known that the alvine evacuation is periodical
and subject to the power of habit; if the regular call
*"1 have observed that in mature age, and in the decline of life,
symptoms whieh are attributed to previous irregularities, to idio-
syncracy, to hereditary dispositions, to disease, and to approaching
old age, frequently arise from constipation of the bowels." — Ham-
ilton on Purgative Medicines, 1306, p. 7.
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. 99
is not obej'ed, the necessity for the evacuation passes a-
way ; the call being again and again neglected, habitual .
costiveness is the consequence.' 1 — Hamilton on Purga-
tives, p 72.
It will facilitate the acquirement of this salutary eva-
cuation, to take at night, such a dose of aperient medicine,
as experience has pointed out, as just sufficient to assist
nature to produce a motion in the morning.
Habitual costiveness is not curable by drugs alone,
and is most agreeably corrected oy diet and regimen, those
most important, and only effectual, although much neglect-
ed (because little understood) means of permanently alle-
viating chronic complaints, for which
"Coquina est optima Medicina*'
Stroyig constitutions are generally costive f that perfect
and vigorous action of the absorbents, which is the cause
of their strength, is also the cause of their constipation:
"Oportet sanorum, sedes esse fijuratas."
This ought to make them content, but the constipated
are forever murmuring about a habit, which, if managed
with moderate care, is the fundamental basis of health
and long life. A little attention to regimen will generally
prevent it, a simple laxative will suffice to remove it, and
neither will be often necessary, for those who observe a
deobstruent diet, take proper exercise'in a pure air, suffi
cient liquid food, and eat freely of butter, salt, and sugar.
The peculiarity of most constitutions is so convenient,
that almost all costive persons, by attending to the effects
w hich various things produce upon the bowels, may find,
in their usual food and drink, the means of persuading
their sluggish viscera to vibrate with healthful celerity.
A supper or breakfast of thin Gruel, (No. 572,) with
plenty of butter and halt in it, ripe fruits, particularly
grapes,] oranges, strawberries, raspberries, mulberries,
*"Astridion of the belly is commonly a sign of strong chylopoetic
organs." — Arbuthnot on Aliment, p. 24,
tBcautiful and full ripe Hot-house grapes may be procured in
the greatest perfection at the fruit shops in Conventgarden, almost
all the year round; and the editor has frequently given them to
THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFi:.
marmalade, honey, treacle, roasted apples, stewed prune>,
rigs, raisins, tamarinds, French plums, &c. will almost al-
ways produce the desired effect.
Two or three strong Cinnamon or Ginger Lozenges,
gradually dissolved in the mouth when the stomach is emp-
ty, nill act as an aperient on many persons.
Salad Oil is a very pleasant Peristaltic Persuader: hy
the following means it may he introduced (as a supper) to
the most delicate stomach, without any offence to the most
fastidious palate. .
Put a tahle-spoonful of Sherry into a wine-glass, on this
a tahle-spoonful oi' Olive oil, on this another tahle-spoon-
ful of Sherry, or rub together a table-spoonful or two of
oil, with the yolk of an egg boiled hard, (No. 547,) add a
little vinegar and.salt to it, and eat it at supper as a sauce
to a salad (No. 138*) of mustard and cresses, or lettuce,
radishes, button onions, ceiery, cucumber, &c. or cold
boiled asparagus, brocoli, cauliflower, carrot; or turnip,
kidney or French beans, or pease; or pickled salmon,
(No. 161,) lobster, (No. 176,) shrimps, herrings, sprats,
(No. 170,**) or mackarel, (No. 168,) or as a sauce to cold
meat, &.c.
You may give it an infinite variety of agreeable fla
vours; the ingredients to produce which are enumerated
in (No. 372) of "The Cook's Oracle. 1 '
Hypochondriac people are fond of taking medicine at
certain times, the spring and fall, at the full or the new
moon, &c whether they want it or not. For those in
health to attempt to improve it by taking physic is absurd
indeed. Remember the epitaph on the Italian Count :
"I was well,
Wished to be better,
Took phasic, and died."
Hypochondriasis, spleen, vapours, the blue devils, the
bile, nervous debility, &c. are but so many different names
delicate women who have been afflicted v*itli feverish complaints,,
to the quantity oi' a pound per da}-, with the most satisfactory ef-
fect ; they were extremely grateful in cooling their parched mouth?,
and at once most agreeably and effectually supplied the pla<~r oi
!>oth.sa!ine draughts and aperient medicim
fVVTtC PRECEPTS. Idl
lot those disorders which arise either from chronic weak-
ness of the constitution, or an inconsiderate management
of it. A man who has a strong tanrina will bear irregular-
ities with impunity, which will soon destroy a more deli-
cate frame.
We do not laugh at the melancholy of the hypochondriac,
©r consider his complaints as merely the hallucinations of
un malade imaginaire; but trace the cause of them to eith-
er some indigestion interrupting the functions of the ali-
mentary canal, which a gentle aperient would immediate-
ly remove, or the ineffective performance of the restora-
tive process, insufficient nutritive diet, or depression of the
vital and animal functions from anxiety or over-exertion
of either the mind or the body : which nothing but rest?
and nutritive food can repair.
The editor of this little treatise has had from his youth
to bear up against an highly irritable nervous S3stem; the
means he has found useful to manage and support it, he is
now recording for the benefit of other nervous invalids.
We advise our friends, never to call in even the gentle
aid of peristaltic persuaders, but when instinct absolutely
insists upon it; some of the indications of which are "'a
disagreeable taste in the mouth, eructations, want of ap-
petite, sensations of distention in the stomach and bowels,
pains in the stomach and head, vertigo, feverishness, rest-
lessness, peevishness," &c. but these will often disappear
by taking a liquid meal, instead of a solid one, or using
more exercise will often answer the purpose. Mr. Jones
very sensibly observes, "if people will by no means rest
from constantly tampering with laxatives, instead of using
exercise, the habit of using lavement exery evening cannot
be so degtrnctive, as it irritates only twelve inches of intes-
tine and spares raking down the other thirty ™i>ie ftpt.P —
See Med. Vul. Errors, p. 44.
Relaxed bowels* are often e::treme]y unmanageable.
*"People who have relaxed bowels have seldom strong thoughts
at strong bodies." — I.ockk on Ed\ ■ 23.
"The cure for relaxed nei rce of all chronic disorder*)
mHst necessarily bctciu at the stomach. He who attempts to
102
THE ART OF INVIGORATING 1
and difficult to regulate, and are the principal cause ol
that chronic weakness which is so generally complained of, .
ami of many other distressing nerv ouS disorders.
if the bowels are unfaithful to the st*tnach, and, in-
stead of playing fair, let go their hold of the "Pabulum
Vita 1 ,*' before the absorbents have properly performed
the process which that grand organ has prepared for
them, nutrition will be deficient; and flatulence, &<
giddiness, spasms,' head-ache, and back-ache, and what
are called bilious and nervous disorders, and all the di
ses incident to debility, will attack you on the sligh
cause.
Those who are afflicted with a relaxation of the bow
els are advised to a dry diet, rather than a liquid one, and
must submit to a regimen diametrically contrary to that
we have recommenctad to cure constipation,
"Since 1 lessened my drink 1 have been much more cos-
tive than I was before, and have for two years past freed
myself from a diarrhoea. Costiveness generally attends
dry food in other animals as well as men.'' — 1!. Robinson
im Food and Discharges, pages V,2 and 64.
Live principally upon animal food sufficiently cooked,
and stale bread, or biscuit; instead of malt liquor (unless
it be very mild and good home-brewed beer, which is the
best of all beverages) drink beef tea, (No. 563,) or well
made toast and water* (No. 463,*) with about one-fourth
part of wine, and a little sugar and grated nutmeg or gin-
a nervous distemper without firm bowels, lab< ain; for it is
impossible that the constitution of those who have sfippery bowels,
should ever be braced."— -Ciieyne on Long Life, p. 107.
*"To make To_\st and Water. — Cut a bit of the upper crust
of bread, about twice the thickness toast is usually 'cut, toast it
illy, till it be completely browned all over, but not at all
or burnt; put this into a jut;, and ;>our open it as much
; CHi wish to make into drink, coyer the jug, let it
stand till cold. The fresher, the better. Obs. — A roll of fresh
thin cut Lemon Peel cr dried Orange Peel infused with the bread,
is a grateful addition, and makes a v< ry refreshing summer drink :
and when the proportion of the 6 troyed by profuse per-
spiration, may be drank plentifully. Let a large jug be made ear-
ly in the day, it will then become warm by the heat of the air, and
may be drank f :el , ith impunitj cold water fresh drawn from
TEFT1C PRECEPTS, 103
»-er in it; if the stomach be troubled with acidity, or great
flatulence, one-eighth part ei* brandj ma} agree with it
better: whatever you eat or drink should be warmed. — Sec
page ista, and page 71.
Be w ects of the food which you ta
avoid whatever appears to irritate, and cat only that which
■icucc has proved acceptabh .
if. bowels are excited to inconveniently in-
creas i by any thing that the stomach has either
not the ability, or the inclination to prepare for them, and
diarrha is the consequence.
The easiest and i ectual method of restoring
tranquillity in the bowels, is to be content with a light diet
of gruel, broth, or fish &c. tili the return of a keen appe-
es you. that the stomach has recovered its powers,
and being ready for action requires its usual supply of sol-
id food.
Whpn the bowels get a trick of emptying themselves too of-
ten, a teaspoenful of compound powder of chalk in your
tea, or a wine-glass full of the following mixture, taken
twice or thrice a day, \\ ill generally cure them of it -
ipce. .
Chalk mixtur ■•. six ounce*,
Tincture of Cinnamon (No. 416*,) one ditto.
Opiate confection, one drachm.
If diarrhce continues obstinate, more powerful astrin*
gents* may be necessary.
Tincture of C;: v o. 4i6*) is one of the best
cordial tonics, see also (No. 569,) and*(Nos. 45 3 and 15.)
Opium Lozenges, containing a quarter of a grain each.
and strongly flavoured with oil of peppermint, are recom-
ded to those who aie troubled with relaxed bowels.
rong Peppermint Lozenges are the most convenient
portable carminative: as soon as they are dissolved, their
influence is felt from the beginning, to the end of the ali-
mentary canal; they dissipate flatulence so immediately,
'Dr. Pemberton recommends the following Bolus:
Kino. pulv. j.
Confcc. Opiat. gr. xii.
Misc. Fiat bolus, ter quotidie iumcndN c .
See hia observations on the diseases of the Ahdondnal Viscera. 8vo
1807, p. 140.
104 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
that they well deserve the name of Vegetable JEther; and
are recommended to. "singers* and public sfeaxers, as
giving effective excitement to the organs of the voi< •
a suj port against the distressing effects of fasting too long,
and to give energy to the stomach between meals.
N. B. Sixty different sorts of Lozenges, arc made in the
most superlative manner, by Mr. Smith, Fell Street, Wood
Street, Gheapside.
His Rose Jvjubus, are a very elegant preparation, which
those who have not a remarkable sweet breath, are re-
commended to take the last thing at night, and the lirsl in
the morning; the breath smells faintest when the stomach
j^ empt iest.
His Mellifluous Aromatics are so delicately flavoured,
they moisten the mouth and throat without cloying the
palate, stomach, &c. which is more than can be said of
most lozenges.
TO MAKE FORTY PERISTALTIC PERSUADERS.
Take,
Turkey Rhtibarb, finely pulverized, two drachms.
Syrup 0\v weight) one drachm.
Oil of Carraway, ten drops (minums.)
Made into pills, each of which will contain three grains ofrhubaft.,
The dose of the Persuaders must be adapted to the
constitutional peculiarity of the patient: when you wish
to accelerate or augment the alvine exoneration, take two,
three or more, according to the effect you desire to pro-
dine; two fills will do as much for one person z&fivt
or s*x will for another; they generally will very regular-
ly perform what you wish to-day, without interfering with
what you hope will happen to-morrow ; and are, therefore.
as convenient an argument against constipation as any we
tire acquainted with.
The most convenient opportunity to introduce them to the
-Here followed, in the first edition, some observations on singing
See page 43 of this book; but most of Ibem are taken out and will
Shortly be published by Messrs Hurst and Robinson, No. DO, Cheap-
Aide, as part of the prefatory matter of "The English Melo-
dies," selected by the author of this work, from the library ■>>
\HtOf Kitchener, M. D.
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. 106
stomach, is early in the morning, when it is unoccupied,
and has no particular business to attend to, i. e, ai
half an hour before breakfast.
Physic should never interrupt the stomach, when it is
engaged in digesting food; perhaps the best time to l.> .e
it, is when you awake out of your first sleep, or as soou as
you awake in the morning. Moreover, such is the increa-
sed sensibility of some stomachs at that time, that half
the quantity oi' medicine will suffice.
From tvpp to four Pcrsuaters will generally produce one
additional motion within twelve hours.
They may be taken at any time, by the most delicate
females, whose constitutions are so often distressed by
constipation,* and destroyed by the drastric purgatives
they take to relieve it. See also page 90.
Their agreeable flavour recommends them as the most
convenient aperient for children, whose indispositions
most frequently arise from obstructions in the bowels; it
is not always u very easy task to prevail upon a spoiled
child to take physic; therefore, we have made our pill to
taste exactly like gingerbread.
For infants, too young to swallow a pill, pound it, and
mix it with currant jelly, honey, or treacle.
On the first att.u k of disease, it may generally be
disarmed by discharging the contents of the bowels: in
everV disorder! the main point is carefully to watch,
S. knowledge how to regulate the alvine evacuation, consti-
tutes much of the prophylactic part of nre&icine; hence how ne-
*y it is to advise those who either wish to preserve good health,
or are in need of the lost treasure, to attend to this circumstance."
Hamilton on Purgatives p. 7.
"How much it behoves those who have the charge of young
people, particularly of the female sex, to impress them with the
propriety, nay with the absolute necessity of attention to the reg-
ular state of the bowels; and to put in their power by the use ol
proper means, to guard against constipation ; and at the same time
to watcli over them, lest through indolence, they neglect a circum-
stance which, promoting in the gay season ofyoVth, the enjoy-
ment of health and happinness, opposes a sun; barrier against the
inroads of chlorosis, ice. always a distressing and sometimes a fa-
tal complaint/' — Ibid. p. 70.
T"There are three things which I consider as necessary to the
iure of disorder.
K
106 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
and constantly to keep up the activity of the alimentary
: for want of due attention to this, millions (< -
cially of children) Hi AVE died of medicabi e disorders!!
For bilious or liver* complai'nts, (which are now
the fashionable names for all those deranged sensations of
the abdominal viscera, which as often arise frpna the want,
as from the excess of bile, and perhaps most frequently
from indigestion ;) and for expelling worms,! for which it
is the fashion to administer mereuryX (which, because it is
"!»/, That the stomach should thoroughly digest all the I
put into it.
M Th( | erceiying the necessity of obtaihin I, !>;■•
attentive to bis diet, and observes thee quan-
ind quality of his food and medicines have upon his feel
and th< powers of his sto'manh.
"Idly, That the residue of the food should he daily discharged
from the bowels: here, too, the p
what kind and dose of purgative medicine besteffect them*
, and i i r it answ< fs better if taken at once or at in-
tl . »'/.,'. Thai ! ':. secretion of bile should be right, both with
pect to qua I quality. I . n (ion of
bile ha or faulty, I recommend uri-
trritating a id undi bilitating doses of on r< urj , (i. e. pil. hydrag.)
to be taken ev< ry sscond or third night till the stools become of the
wet rhubarb colour." — p. 90.
"••Any kind of brown, which dilution will not convert into yel-
low, I should consider as unhealthy." — p. iD. See Mr. Am i
tht's Surgical Observations;.
*"A popular hypothesis is now very prevalent, which attril
near', t disturbed statu of the liver, for which
urial drugs are lavished almost indiscriminately. The folly
of expectii 'ion winch is favoura-
al indolence <;:
when it is ai .. [cal interes s of
lividuab." — A. Carlisle o;t Old «3ge, 2d edit. p. 88.
t u T: »usqnestion, ilentpurga-
t he ■ i.eh, bj the d< < ish e i n-
ir _. of medical ; - them, have been most
active to i: species." — Withers on the Abuse of
Medicine,8vo. 1794, p. 19 and 117.
^"Mercury and Antimony, elaborated into poisons by chem
., James's Powders, Sic. hi vi
l il c mill never bear common food
8Vo. 1771, p. 79.
Peptic trecepts. 107
the only remedy lor one disease, people suppose must be
"a panacea for every disorder) and other drastric mineral
medicines, which are awfully uncertain both in their
strength and in their operation.
If, instead of two or three times a week tormenting
your bowels with Corrosive Cathartics, Ilydragogues,
Phlegmagoguts, &:c. you take one or two gentle Pep
ders, twice or thrice a day; they will excite a gradual
and regularly increased action of the viscera, restore the
tone of the alimentary tuhe, and speedily and effectually
cure the disorder, without injuring the constitution.
There is not a more universal or more mischievous vul-
gar error, than the notion, that physic is efficacious, in pro-
portion as it is extremely disagreeable to take, and f.
fully violent in its operation; unless a medicine actually
produces more distress in the system, than the disorder
it is administered to remove; in fact, if the remedy he eot
worse than the disease, the million have no faith in it. and
are not satisfi ed that they can be perfectly cured if -they
escape phlebotomy, unless put to extreme pain ? and p.e.n-
tifuliy supplied with black doses, and drastric drugs; they
have the best opinion of that doctor who most furiously
'■•Vomits — Purges — Blisters — Bleeds — and Sueals 'em."
To perfectly content them that you have most profoundly
considered their case, you must to such prescription, add
a proscription of every thing they appear particularly
partial to!!!
People who in all other respects appear to be very ra-
tional, and are apt to try other questu.rs by the ml
common sense, «in matters relating to their health, surren-
der their understanding to the fashion of trie day, and in
the present century, ou all occasions talc Calomelas
ly as in the last, their grandfathers inundated their poor
stomachs with Tar-water.
TONIC TINCTURE, (No. 569) U
Peruvian Bark, bruised, one otmce and a half.
Orange Peel do. one ounce.
brandy, or Proof Spirit, one pint.
103 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
Let these ingredients steep for ten days, shaking the
bottle every day, let it remain quiet two days, and tlien
de< ant the clear liquor.
Dose — one teaspoonful in a wineglass of water, twice
a day, when you fee) languid, i. e. when the stomach is
em] ty, al out an hour before dinner, and in the evening.
Twenty grains of the powder of bark may be added to
it occasionally.
To this agreeable aromatic tonic we are under person-
al obligations, for frequently putting our stomachs into
good temper, and procuring us good appetite and good di-
gestion.
In low nervous affections, arising from a languid circu-
lation; and, when the stonrach is in a state of shabby de-
bility from age or intemperance, or other causes, this is a
most acceptable restorative,
N. B. Tea made with dried and bruised Seville Orange
Peel, (in the same manner as common tea,) and drank with
tni iutd sugar, has been taken for breakfast by nervous
'spectic persons with great benefit.
Chewing a hit of Orange Peel twice a day when the
stomach is empty, will be found very grateful, and
strengthening to it.
STOMACH TINCTURE.
Two ounces of Cacasrilla bark (braised,) or dried Or-
ange Peel, or Colombia Root, infused for a fortnight in
a pint of brandy, will give you the tinctures called by
those names.
Dose — one or two teaspoonsful in a wine-glass of water.
TINCTURE OF CINNAMON, (No. 416*.)
This excellent cordial is made by pouring a bottle of
genuine Cogniac (No. 471) on three ounces of bruised
cinamon (Cassia will not do.) This cordial restorative
w •!■•■ more in vogue formerly, than it is now; a teaspoonful
of it. and a lump of sugar, in a glass of good Sherry or
Madeira with the yolk of an egg beat up in it. was called
" Balsamnm Vitm,^
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. 109
^Cur moriatur homo, qui sumil de Ginnamomo?" — "Cinnamon
is verie comfortable to the stomache, and the principal] partes of
the bodii .'"
"Ventriculum, Jecur, Lienem Cerebrum, ngrvosqwi juvant'et ro-
bo.at." — u l reckon il a great treasure for a student to have bj him,
in his closet, to take now and then a spoonful.'" — Cooan's Ha-
ven of 'hah;,, 4to. 1584, p. 1 1 1.
Obs. — Two teaspoonsful in a wine-glass of water, are a
present and pleasant remedy in nervous languors, and in
relaxations of the bowels; in the latter case five drops of
Laudanum may be added to each dose.
SODA WATER, (NO. 481.*)
The best way of producing* agreeable pneumatic punch,
as a learned chemist has called this refreshing refriger-
ant, is to hi I two half-pint tumblers half full of vater, stir in-
to one 30 grains of carbonate uf potabs, into the other 25
grains of citric* acid (both being previously finely pound-
ed.) when the powders are perfectly dissolved, pour the
contents of the one tumbler into the other, and sparkling
Soda Water is instantaneously produced.
To make double Soda Water, use double the quantity
of the powder.
Single Soda Water is a delightful drink in sultry weath-
er, and may be very agreeably flavoured by di^soivin^ a
little raspberry or red currant jelly in the water, (before
ycu add the carbonate of potash to it,) or a little tincture
of ginger, (No. 411,) or syrup of ginger, (No. 394,) or
syrup of lemon peel, (No. 393.) or infuse a roil of fresh
and thin-cut lemon peel, and a bit of sugar in the water,
or rub down a (e\\ drops of (No. 408,) with a bit of lump
sugar, with on without a little grated ginger; a glass of
Sherry or a tablespoonful of brandy i- sometimes added.
The addition of a teaspoonful of the tonic tincturk
(No. 569.) will give you a very refreshing stomachic ; an f ten
drops of Tinct. Ferri Muriati put into the water in which
you dissolve the citric acid, a line effervescing chalybeate.
The dan after a feast, if you feel fevered and heated,
*The flavour of CoxweWs Citric Acid is much more agreeable
than the Tartaric, which, being cheaper, is sometimes substituted
for it.
K 2
HO THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
you cannot do better than drink a half-pint glass or two of
Single Soda Water between breakfast and dinner.
Double Soda Water (especially if made with tepid
water) is an excellent auxiliary to accelerate the opera-
tion of aperient medicine, and if taken in the morning fast -j
ing, will sometimes move the bowels without further as-
sistance.
If some good Cogniac or essence of ginger (No. 411)
be added to it, it is one of the best helps to set the stom-
ach to work, and remove the distressing languor which
sometimes follows hard drinking.
ESSENCE OF GINGER, (No. 411.)
The fragrant aroma of ginger is so extremely volatile,
that it evaporates almost as soon as it is pounded; the fine
lemon peel gout flies off presently.
If ginger is taken to produce an immediate effect, to
warm a stomach, dispel flatulence, &c. or as an addition
to aperient medicine, the following is the best preparation
of it:
Steep three ounces of fresh grated ginger, and one
ounce of fresh lemon peel, (cut thin) in a quart of brandy,
or proof spirit for ten days, shaking it up each day.
N. B. Tincture of alspice,, which, is sometimes cal-
led Essence of Bishop, for making mulled wine, &.c. extem-
pore, is prepared in the same manner.
gruel, (No 252.)
1st, Ask those who are to eat it, if they like it thick
er thin; if the latter, mix well together by degrees, in a
pint basin, one tablespoonful of oatmeal with three of cold
water; if the former too spoonsful.
Have, ready in a stewpan, a point of boiling water or
milk, pour this by degrees to the oatmeal you have mix-
ed, return it into the stewpan, set it on the fire, and let it
boii for five minutes, stirring it all the time to prevent the
oatmeal from burning at the bottom of the stewpan, skim,
and strain it through a hair sieve.
FEPTIC PRECEPTS. Ill
£d. To convert this into caudle, add a little ale, wine,
or brandy, with sugar, and if the bozvels are disordered
a littie nutmeg or ginger grated.
Gruel may be made with broth* (No. 490) or (No. 252)
^Portable Soup, or Glaze. — (No. 252.)— Desire the butch-
er to break the bones of a legjora shin of beef, of 10 pound?
weight (the fresher killed the better,) put it into a soup-pot (a
digester is die bc-i. utensil for this purpose) that will well hold
it : just cover it with cold water, and set it on the lire to heat rad-
uallj till it nearlyjuoils, (this should he at least an hour;) skim if.
attentively while any scum rises; pour in a little cold water, to
throw up the scum that may remain, let it come to a boil a
and again skim it carefully : when no more scum rises, ai d the
broth appears clear, (put in neither roots nor lurbs nor salt,; let it
boil for eight or ten hours, and then strain it through a hair sieve
into a brown stone pan ; set the broth where it will cool quickly;
put the meat into a sieve, let it drain, make potted beef (No. 503,)
or it will be very acceptable to many poor families. Next dav
rcmove every particle of fat from the top of it, and pour it through
a tammisor fine sieve as quietly as possible into a stewpan, taking
care not to let any of the settlings at the bottom of the stone-pan
go into the stewpan, which should be of thick copper, perfectly
well tinned ; add a quarter of an ounce of whole black pepper to
it, let itboil briskly, with the stewpan uncovered, on a quick fire:
if any scum rises, take it off with a skimmer; when it begins to
thicken, and is reduced to about a quart, put it into a smaller stew-
pan; set it over a gentler fire, till it is reduced to the thickness of
a very thick syrup; take care that it does not burn, a moment's
inattention now nil! b,se you all your Idbour, and the soup trill be
spoiled: take a little of it out in a spoon and let it cool : if it sets
into strong jelly, it is done enough, if it does not, boil it a little
longer, till it does; have ready some little pots, such as are used
for potted meats, about an inch and a half See] , taking care that
they are quite dry ; we recommend it to be kept in thesi | ots if it
is for home consumption, {the less il is reduced, the belter is the fla-
vour of the soup,) if it be sufficiently concentrated to keep for six
months ; if you wish to preserve it longer, put it into such bladders
as are used for German sausages, or if j ou prefer it in the form of
cake=ypour it into a dish about a quarter of an inch deep ; when
it is cold, turn it out and weigh the cake, and divide it with a paste-
cutter into pieces of half an ounce and an ounce each ; place them
in a warm room, and turn them frequently till they are thorough-
ly dried ; this will take a week or ten days ; turn them twice a day ;
when well hardened, if kept in a dry place, they may be preserv-
ed for several years in any climate.
This extract of meat makes excellent "Talh/tcs de Bouillon,"
for those who are obliged to endure long fast
Obs. — The uses of this concentrated essence of meal are numer-
ous. It is equally economical and convenient for making extem-
pore broths, sauces and gravies for hashed or stewed meat, game, or.
poultry, &e.
112 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
or (No. 664,) instead of water, (to make Crowdie, see
(No. 205,*) and may be flavoured with sweet herbs, soup
You may thicken it ami flavour it as directed in (No. 329;) to
make gravy, sauces, Sec. take double Hie quantity ordered for broth.
It' j on have time and opportunity, as (here is no seasoning in the
sou i, either of roots, herbs, or spice, boil an onion with or without
a bit o1 parsley", and sweet herbs, and a few corns of allspice, or
other snice,. in the water you melt the soup in, which may he fla-
voured with mushroom catsup (No. 439,) or Eschalot wine (No.
40 .\ ) essence of sweet herbs (No. 417,) savory spices (Nps. 421, or
457,) essence of celery (No. 409,) Sic. or zest (No. 255;) these may
be combined in the portions most agreeable to the palate of the
eater, and are as portable as portable soup, for a very small por-
tion will flavour a pint.
The editor adds nothing to the solution of this soup, but a very
Ijttle ground black pepper and some salt.
Mem. Tins portable soup is a most convenient article in
cookery, especially in small families, where it will save a great
deal of time and trouble. It is also economical, for no more will
be melted than is wanted, so there is no waste.
A shin of beef, weighing nine pounds, and costing 1*. 10 l-2rf.
produced nine ounces of concentrated soup, sufficiently reduced to
keep for several months'. After the boiling, the bones in this joint
weighed two pounds and a quarter, and the meat two pounds and
a quarter.
As it is difficult to obtain this ready made of good quality, and
we could not find any proper and circumstantial directions for mak-
ing it, which on trial answered the purpose; and itis really a great
acquisition to the army. and navy, to travellers, invalids, &c. the
editor has bestowed some time, &c. in endeavouring to learn, and
to teach how it may be prepared in the easiest, most economical
and perfect manner.
The ordinary selling price is from 10.?. to 12*. but you may make
it according to the above receipt for C.«. Gd. per pound, i. e. for 2
l-2«?. per ounce, which will make you a pint of broth.
Those who do not regard the expense, ant! like the flavour, may
add the lean of ham, in the proportion of a pound to eight pounds
of leg of beef.
It may also be flavoured by adding to it, at the time yon,pnt the
broth into the smaller stewpan, mushroom catsup, shallot wine, es-
sence of spice, or herbs, &c. we prefer it quite plain, it is then rea-
dy to be converted in an instant into a basin of beef tea for an in-
valid, and any flavour may be immediately communicated to it by
the magazine of taste (No. 463.)
Mutton Chops delicately stewed and good Mutton Broth.-(No. 490)-
Put a pound of chops into a stewpan with cold water. enough to
cover them, and half a pint over, ami an onion ; when it is coming
to a boil, skim it, cover the pan close, and set it over a very slow
fire till the chops are tender, if they have been kept a proper time,
they will take about three quarters of an hour's very gentle sim-
fEPTIC PRECEPTS. 113
roQis and savoury spices, by bbilirng them for a few min-
utes in the water you are going to make the gruel with,
or Zest (No. 255,) pea powder (No. 458,) or dried mint,
mushroom catsup ,No. 439,) or a tew grams of Curry
powder (No. 455,) or savoury ragout powder (No. 457,)
. or cayenne (No. 404.) or cellery seed bruised, or soup
Kerb powder (No. 459) or an onion minced very tine and
bruised in with the oatmeal, or a little eschalot wine (No.
402.) or essence of celery (No. 409,) or (No. 413,) (No.
417.) or (No. 420,) &c.
Plain gruel, such as is directed in the first part of this
recipe, is one of the best breakfasts and suppers that we
can recommend to the rational epicure; is the most com-
forting soother of an irritable stomach that we know, and
particularly acceptable to it after a hard dan's wq.rk of in-
limperate feasting, when the addition of half an ounce of
butter, and a teaspoonful of epsom salt will give it an a-
perient quality, which will assist the principal viscera to
get rid of their burden.
-Water Gruel .(says Try on in his observation on health,
16mo. 1688, p. 42.) is '-the King of Spoon Meats,'' and -the
Queen of Soups." and gratifies nature beyond all others.
In the "art of thriving,''' lu'97, p. 8, are directions for
preparing fourscore noble and wholesome dishes, upon
most of which a man may live excellent well for twopence a
day: the authors Obs.on water gruel is that "essence of
oatmeal*' makes "a noble and exhilarating meal p
Dr. Fra#klin ? s favourite breakfast was a good basin of
warm gruel, in which there was a small slice of butter
with toasted bread and nutmeg, the expense of this, he
reckoned at three half-pence.
"Mastication is a very necessary preparation of solid
aliment, without which there can be no good digestion. 1 '
The above are the first lines in Arbtjthnot's Essay on Al-
iment.
This first act of the important process of digestion, is
most perfectly performed, when the flavour, &c. of our
mering. Send up turnips Avith them, (No. 130,) they may be
boiled with the chops, skim well, and then send all up in a deep
dish, with the broth they were stewed in.
N. B. The broth will "make an economist one, and the meat a*;
•#»er wholesome and comfortable meal.
3 14 THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
food is agreeable to our taste; we naturally detain upod
our palate those things which please it. and t\.c meat we
relish most, is consequently most broken down by chew-
ing and most intimately incorporated with the saliva, this
is the reason why what we desire most e digest best.
Here is, a sufficient answer, lo the folios which have
sprung from the pens of cynical and senseless scribblers,
on whom nature not having bestowed a palate, they have
proscribed those pleasures they had not sense* to taste, or
comprehend the wise purposes for which they were given
to us, and
"Compound for sins they arc- inclin'd to,
By damning those they have no mind to."
How large a share of the business of digestion is mana-
ged by mastication, has been shown by the experiments of
Spallanzani.]
*Men are but rarely "framed so in the prodigality of nature,"
as to have all their sense's in perfection, vefj few have a single one,
that approximates within many degrees of ii ; the eve of Rhaphael,
the ear of Handel, the palate of Apicius, or the sensitive touch or
the blind Girl, who couM/ee/, colours, arepancratic faculties which
are seldom produced.
The following division of the senses is so excellent that I copy it
from the scarce book referred to below:
"I distinguish the six senses by the character of noxious and
innocent. The first three, thinking, seeing and hearing, are the in-
. nocent. The last three^/ee.ling, tasting and swelling, the noxious.
"I pursue happiness or systematic pleasurable sensation, in the
cultivation of the first class, and in the controul of the latter." —
See the Life of John Stewart the Traveller, p. 12.
t"I took two pieces of mutton, each weighing 45 grains, and
having chewed one as much as 1 used to chew m . t'nai\, enclosed
them in two separate spheres, and swallowed tbein at the same
time, these tubes were voided at the same time, of the
meat there remained only 4 grains, of the other there were '8 left.
"The necessity of mastication is sufficient^ known - there is per-
haps no person who has not, some time or other, suffered from indi-
gestion, for want of having chewed his food, prop* rlv.
is obvious. Not to mention the saliva which moistens fch< food
and iredisposes it to be dissolved, it cannot be doubted, that when
:t is reduced to "ieeQs by the action of the teeth, the gastric fluid
penetrates, and attacking it at more points, dissolves it more
ily than vi ; whole. This is true of menstrua in g<
which alwaj s dissolve bodies sooner when they have been preview-
PEPTIC PRECEPTS, 115
To chew long, and leisure!}', is the only way to extract
the essence of cur food, to enjoy the taste of it. and to ren-
der it easily convertible into laudable chyle, by the facili-
ty it gives to the gastric juices to dissolve it without trou-
ble.
The pleasure of the palate, and the health of the $tom~
are equally promoted by this salutary habit, which all
should be taught to acquire in their infancy.
The more tender meat is, the more we may eat of it.
That w hich is most difficult to chew, is of course most diffi-
< ult to digest.
From 30 to 40 (according to the tenderness of the meat)
has been calculated as the mean Dumber of munches, that
- did m l ■■■' e for its journey down the red
■ less will he sufficient for tender, delicate, and easily
digestible white meats.
The sagacious Gourmand, will calculate this precisely,
and not waste his precious moments in useless jaw-work,
pr invite an indigestion by neglecting mastication.
1 cannot give any positive iules lor this, it depends on
the state of the teeth;' - * every one, especially ?< dysj e<
ught to ascertain the condition of these useful work-
ing tools; and to use them with proportionate diligence, is
an i ble exert • i every rational epicure
v rill most cheerfully perform, who has any regard tor the
welfare ol iach.|
It has been recommended, that those whose teeth are
why, in other experi-
ted bread ai •'■ sb were n. re readily dis-
i than unchewed bread ami raw flesh. The boding hud made
it tenderer, and consequent 1 it to allow ingress to the
si ric fluid." — Spallakzaisi on Digeslion 3 vol. i. p. 277.
I,i no branch of the practice of pbysic,is there more dangerou*
ins we can I
our friends with to avoid this, is to recommend them to apply to a
t of acknov ience. Our
own mouth is i:,. igations to .Mr. Edmonds, of
' Conduit Street, Hanover square.
t"Slave-dealers are well acquainted with (ho characteristic
Ith, any defect of which much diminishes the
of a slave. The want of a tooth makes a slave worth tw.
dollars less. 1 ' — Visa i igraphy, vol. i. p. 44t>
HG THE ART OF INVIGORATING LIFE.
defective, should mince their meat, this will certainly save
trouble to both teeth and stomach, nevertheless, it is ad-
visable, let the meat be minced ever so fine, to endeavour
to mumble it into a pulp before it be introduced to the
stomach, on account of the advantage derived from its ad
mixture with the saliva.
"By experiment, I determined the quantity of saliva se-
creted in haif an hour, to be whilst (he parts arc at
four drachms." — Stark on Dint, p. 09.
Mastication is '.he source of all good digestion; \
its assiston e, almost any thing may be put into any stom-
ach with impunity: without it, digestion is always diffi-
cult, and often impossible: and be it always remembered,
it is not merely what we eat, but what we digest well, that
nourishes us.
The sagacious Gourmand is ever mindful of his motto:
"Masticate, Denticatc, Chump, Grind and Swallow."
The four first acts, he knoAvs he must perform properly;
before be dare attempt the fifth.
Those who cannot enjoy a savoury morsel on account
of their teeth, or rather on account of the want of them,
we refer to the note at the foot of p. 1 lb.
To those who may inadvertently exercise their masti-
cative faculties on unworthy materials, or longer on wor-
thy ones than nature .finds convenient, we recommend
''Peristaltic Persuaders." Seepage 104.
When either the teeth or stomach are extremely feeble,
especial care must be taken to keep meat till it is tender, be-
fore it i* cooked, and call in the aid of the pestle and mor-
tar; and see Nos. 10,87, 89, 175, 178*; from 185 to 250,
501 — 542, and especially 503. Or dress in the usual way
whatever is best" liked; mince it, put it into a mortar, and
pound it with a little broth or melted butter, vegetable,
herb, spice, zest, No. 255, &.c. according to the taste, &c.
of the eater. The business of the stomach is thus very
materially facilitated.
'•Mincing or pounding meat, saveth the grinding of the
teeth; and therefore, (no doubt,) is more nourishing, es-
pecially in age, or to them that have weak teeth; but
nutter is not proper for weak bodies, and therefore, mois";
PEPTIC PRECEPTS. ll"/
-ten it in pounding with a little claret wine, and a very
kittle cinnamon or nutmeg. 1 ' — Lord Bacon's Natural
History. Century 1. — 54.
This is important advice for those who are afflicted
with ''Tic Douloureux,' 1 '' the paroxysm of which is gener-
ally provoked by the exercise of eating, and the editor
has known that dreadful disorder cured by the patient
frequently taking food thus prepared in small portions, in-
stead of ;i regular meal.
The teeth should be cleaned after every meal with a
"tooth preserver," (i. e. a very soft brush.) and then
linced with tepid water, never neglect this at night; nothing
destroys the teeth so fast as suffering food to stick be-
tween them, those who observe this rule, will seldom have
an\ T occasion for dcutrif rices, essence of ivory, indurating
liquid enamels, <$*c.
But it is the rage just now with some dentists, to re-
commend brushes so hard, that they fetch blood like a
lancet wherever they touch; and instead of "teeth pre-
servers,''' these should rather be termed "gum bleeders.''''
Not even a philosopher can endure the toothach pa-
tiently; what an overcoming agony then must it be to a
jjrand gourmand! depriving him of the means of enjoy-
ing an amusement which to him is the grand solace for
all sublunary cares. To alleviate, and in indeed gener-
ally tocure this intolerable pain, we recommend
Toothavhe and Anti-rheumatic Embrocation, (No. 5G7.)
Sal volatile — three parts
Laudanum — one part.
Mix and rub the part in pain therewith frequently. If the
' tooth which aches is hollow, drop some of this on a bit of
cotton, and put it into the tooth, if the pain does not abate
within an hour, take out the cotton, and put another piece.
in, changing it every hour four or five times, till the pain
ceases.
In a general face-ache or sore throat, moisten a piece
of flannel with it and put it to the part affected, rub any
part afflicted with rheumatism night and morning and in
the middle of the day. I have frequently cured old ami
. umatic affections with this liniment
THE EVD.
lA)Z
Live Music Archive
Librivox Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Internet Arcade
Console Living Room
Books to Borrow
Open Library
TV News
Understanding 9/11